Kent State University at Tuscarawas recognized outstanding students, faculty and community members during the Spring Awards Ceremony on Fri., April 26, at the Performing Arts Center.
Michael Dunbar, adjunct geography faculty, received the 2023-2024 Part-Time Distinguished Teaching Award for his excellence in teaching. The award recognizes Dunbar’s enthusiasm and commitment to his profession, his comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter and his ability to stimulate interest and understanding among students. Dunbar also received the award during the 2014-2015 academic year. The Distinguished Teaching Awards are the most prestigious awards the campus presents to faculty members.
The Full-Time Distinguished Teaching Award will be announced during the upcoming Commencement Ceremony on May 10.
The Community Engagement Staff Award recipient this year is Director of the Engineering Technology Department Paul Dykshoorn. During the past academic year, Dykshoorn has worked tirelessly to bring the community and the campus together by organizing many events, including the Rising Manufacturing Scholars program, the Homeschool Engineering Workshops, the High School Engineering Technology Competitions, the Engineering Expo, and the High School Engineer for a Day program. As host to the Engineering Technology Department Bridge Building Competition, Dykshoorn again brought community engagement to the campus, as hundreds of high school students and their families participated in the event. Most recently, the Tuscarawas Campus and the engineering technology department hosted the 2024 International Bridge Building Contest, with participants representing fifteen states and South Korea.
The Tuscarawas County Public Library was recognized with the Community Partner Award after a six-year partnership with the Kent State Tuscarawas Early Years Education and Care degree program. The education program and the children’s department of the library worked together to develop Giggle Gym, a program that supports students with field experiences and provides them the opportunity to connect with children and families in an educational setting outside of the traditional preschool classroom. Mary Smrek, Children’s Services manager, accepted the award on behalf of the library.
The Community Engagement Student Club Award was presented to the Nursing Club, an organization for Kent State Tuscarawas nursing students that impacts both the campus and the community through health-related projects completed throughout the year. Club members volunteer for various activities that encourage engagement in the nursing program, with fellow students and with members of the community, including Paint Tusc Pink, Halloween Trunk or Treat, First Town Days festival parade and blood drives for the American Red Cross.
Along with these awards, nearly fifty students from various majors were recognized for their individual academic success during the year.