Richard Gwin/Journal-World PhotoStephen Benedict, a Kansas University associate professor, wore shorts and a polo shirt Thursday to his first immunology class of the semester.
Imagine his surprise when Chancellor Robert Hemenway and an entourage of suit-clad men and women walked in to hand him a $5,000 check.
“It was a huge surprise. It was a big pleasure,” Benedict said. “That many suits in one place is intimidating.”
Benedict was one of seven KU faculty members who received Kemper Awards for teaching excellence Thursday. Thirteen more will receive awards Monday and Wednesday, when their classes meet for the first time.
The awards, in their seventh year, are funded by the William T. Kemper Foundation and the KU Endowment Association. A panel of seven students, faculty and KU alumni pick the winners from a slate of nominees.
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo“Faculty are going to teach well if there are awards or not,” Hemenway said. “What this allows us to do is reward excellent teachers and show teaching is a high priority for KU. We’re willing to recognize that and, frankly, put our money where our mouth is.”
The awards are funded for another three years. The Kemper Foundation and the Endowment Association will spend $1 million on faculty awards in the program’s 10 years.
Thursday afternoon, Hemenway and his entourage interrupted a class taught by Virgil Adams, assistant professor of gerontology and psychology.
| Seven faculty members receive awardsThe following Kansas University faculty members received Kemper Awards for teaching excellence Thursday. Thirteen more will be honored next week.Virgil H. Adams III, assistant professor of gerontology and psychology.Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, chair and associate professor of preventative medicine.Stephen H. Benedict, associate professor of molecular biosciences.Mark Joslyn, assistant professor of political science and government.Paul S. Lim, professor of English.Marjorie E. Swann, associate professor of English.Jack B. Wright, professor of theater and film. |
“This is the invasion of the suits, or something we call the ‘prize patrol,'” Hemenway told the class of about 20 students. “You have the privilege of being taught by Virgil Adams, who’s being recognized as one of the top faculty members at the University of Kansas.”
Adams accepted the $5,000 check. He also received a glass trophy and a cake provided by the psychology department both of which didn’t seem to get as much attention as the check.
“I’m sort of at a loss for words here,” Adams said.
Benedict, who wasn’t sure how he’d spend his money, said the award was a nice plus but that the real rewards of teaching came in the classroom.
“You can’t do it for the awards, because they’re few and a lot of them don’t have money associated with them,” he said. “You labor long, and you know the students appreciate it. It’s not really an incentive, but it recognizes what you’ve done.”
Richard Gwin/Journal-World PhotoStephen Benedict, a Kansas University associate professor, wore shorts and a polo shirt Thursday to his first immunology class of the semester.
Imagine his surprise when Chancellor Robert Hemenway and an entourage of suit-clad men and women walked in to hand him a $5,000 check.
“It was a huge surprise. It was a big pleasure,” Benedict said. “That many suits in one place is intimidating.”
Benedict was one of seven KU faculty members who received Kemper Awards for teaching excellence Thursday. Thirteen more will receive awards Monday and Wednesday, when their classes meet for the first time.
The awards, in their seventh year, are funded by the William T. Kemper Foundation and the KU Endowment Association. A panel of seven students, faculty and KU alumni pick the winners from a slate of nominees.
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo“Faculty are going to teach well if there are awards or not,” Hemenway said. “What this allows us to do is reward excellent teachers and show teaching is a high priority for KU. We’re willing to recognize that and, frankly, put our money where our mouth is.”
The awards are funded for another three years. The Kemper Foundation and the Endowment Association will spend $1 million on faculty awards in the program’s 10 years.
Thursday afternoon, Hemenway and his entourage interrupted a class taught by Virgil Adams, assistant professor of gerontology and psychology.
| Seven faculty members receive awardsThe following Kansas University faculty members received Kemper Awards for teaching excellence Thursday. Thirteen more will be honored next week.Virgil H. Adams III, assistant professor of gerontology and psychology.Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, chair and associate professor of preventative medicine.Stephen H. Benedict, associate professor of molecular biosciences.Mark Joslyn, assistant professor of political science and government.Paul S. Lim, professor of English.Marjorie E. Swann, associate professor of English.Jack B. Wright, professor of theater and film. |
“This is the invasion of the suits, or something we call the ‘prize patrol,'” Hemenway told the class of about 20 students. “You have the privilege of being taught by Virgil Adams, who’s being recognized as one of the top faculty members at the University of Kansas.”
Adams accepted the $5,000 check. He also received a glass trophy and a cake provided by the psychology department both of which didn’t seem to get as much attention as the check.
“I’m sort of at a loss for words here,” Adams said.
Benedict, who wasn’t sure how he’d spend his money, said the award was a nice plus but that the real rewards of teaching came in the classroom.
“You can’t do it for the awards, because they’re few and a lot of them don’t have money associated with them,” he said. “You labor long, and you know the students appreciate it. It’s not really an incentive, but it recognizes what you’ve done.”
Richard Gwin/Journal-World PhotoStephen Benedict, a Kansas University associate professor, wore shorts and a polo shirt Thursday to his first immunology class of the semester.
Imagine his surprise when Chancellor Robert Hemenway and an entourage of suit-clad men and women walked in to hand him a $5,000 check.
“It was a huge surprise. It was a big pleasure,” Benedict said. “That many suits in one place is intimidating.”
Benedict was one of seven KU faculty members who received Kemper Awards for teaching excellence Thursday. Thirteen more will receive awards Monday and Wednesday, when their classes meet for the first time.
The awards, in their seventh year, are funded by the William T. Kemper Foundation and the KU Endowment Association. A panel of seven students, faculty and KU alumni pick the winners from a slate of nominees.
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo“Faculty are going to teach well if there are awards or not,” Hemenway said. “What this allows us to do is reward excellent teachers and show teaching is a high priority for KU. We’re willing to recognize that and, frankly, put our money where our mouth is.”
The awards are funded for another three years. The Kemper Foundation and the Endowment Association will spend $1 million on faculty awards in the program’s 10 years.
Thursday afternoon, Hemenway and his entourage interrupted a class taught by Virgil Adams, assistant professor of gerontology and psychology.
| Seven faculty members receive awardsThe following Kansas University faculty members received Kemper Awards for teaching excellence Thursday. Thirteen more will be honored next week.Virgil H. Adams III, assistant professor of gerontology and psychology.Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, chair and associate professor of preventative medicine.Stephen H. Benedict, associate professor of molecular biosciences.Mark Joslyn, assistant professor of political science and government.Paul S. Lim, professor of English.Marjorie E. Swann, associate professor of English.Jack B. Wright, professor of theater and film. |
“This is the invasion of the suits, or something we call the ‘prize patrol,'” Hemenway told the class of about 20 students. “You have the privilege of being taught by Virgil Adams, who’s being recognized as one of the top faculty members at the University of Kansas.”
Adams accepted the $5,000 check. He also received a glass trophy and a cake provided by the psychology department both of which didn’t seem to get as much attention as the check.
“I’m sort of at a loss for words here,” Adams said.
Benedict, who wasn’t sure how he’d spend his money, said the award was a nice plus but that the real rewards of teaching came in the classroom.
“You can’t do it for the awards, because they’re few and a lot of them don’t have money associated with them,” he said. “You labor long, and you know the students appreciate it. It’s not really an incentive, but it recognizes what you’ve done.”
Richard Gwin/Journal-World PhotoStephen Benedict, a Kansas University associate professor, wore shorts and a polo shirt Thursday to his first immunology class of the semester.
Imagine his surprise when Chancellor Robert Hemenway and an entourage of suit-clad men and women walked in to hand him a $5,000 check.
“It was a huge surprise. It was a big pleasure,” Benedict said. “That many suits in one place is intimidating.”
Benedict was one of seven KU faculty members who received Kemper Awards for teaching excellence Thursday. Thirteen more will receive awards Monday and Wednesday, when their classes meet for the first time.
The awards, in their seventh year, are funded by the William T. Kemper Foundation and the KU Endowment Association. A panel of seven students, faculty and KU alumni pick the winners from a slate of nominees.
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo“Faculty are going to teach well if there are awards or not,” Hemenway said. “What this allows us to do is reward excellent teachers and show teaching is a high priority for KU. We’re willing to recognize that and, frankly, put our money where our mouth is.”
The awards are funded for another three years. The Kemper Foundation and the Endowment Association will spend $1 million on faculty awards in the program’s 10 years.
Thursday afternoon, Hemenway and his entourage interrupted a class taught by Virgil Adams, assistant professor of gerontology and psychology.
| Seven faculty members receive awardsThe following Kansas University faculty members received Kemper Awards for teaching excellence Thursday. Thirteen more will be honored next week.Virgil H. Adams III, assistant professor of gerontology and psychology.Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, chair and associate professor of preventative medicine.Stephen H. Benedict, associate professor of molecular biosciences.Mark Joslyn, assistant professor of political science and government.Paul S. Lim, professor of English.Marjorie E. Swann, associate professor of English.Jack B. Wright, professor of theater and film. |
“This is the invasion of the suits, or something we call the ‘prize patrol,'” Hemenway told the class of about 20 students. “You have the privilege of being taught by Virgil Adams, who’s being recognized as one of the top faculty members at the University of Kansas.”
Adams accepted the $5,000 check. He also received a glass trophy and a cake provided by the psychology department both of which didn’t seem to get as much attention as the check.
“I’m sort of at a loss for words here,” Adams said.
Benedict, who wasn’t sure how he’d spend his money, said the award was a nice plus but that the real rewards of teaching came in the classroom.
“You can’t do it for the awards, because they’re few and a lot of them don’t have money associated with them,” he said. “You labor long, and you know the students appreciate it. It’s not really an incentive, but it recognizes what you’ve done.”
