Straight A's for top teachers

These are just three ways to describe some of Western's top teachers.

At least, that's according to those who know their teaching abilities best - their students and colleagues.

Comments ranging from, "he is the most demanding and gentlest of teachers," to "this guy is what a professor should be," best portray the 2001-2002 awards for Excellence in Teaching recipients.

The recipients of the Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching are: Don Hair, Department of English; Stephen Hicock, Department of Earth Sciences; John Howard, Department of Medicine; Mitchell McInnes, Faculty of Law. The UWO Award for Excellence in Teaching by Part-Time Faculty recipient is Mary Millard, Department of Statistical and Actuarial Science and the Marilyn Robinson Award for Excellence in Teaching winner is Tom Stavraky, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

Recipients -- selected by the Senate Subcommittee on University Teaching Awards (SUTA) -- received nominations from students, alumni, faculty, deans and department chairs.

Donald Hair, who began his teaching career at Western almost 40 years ago, is described as an accomplished scholar on Victorian poetry and a model teacher of English literature.

"His lectures are impeccably crafted as well as brilliantly and engagingly presented," says SUTA of the 1991 OCUFA teaching award winner. "Students realize at the beginning of the course that they had better come to class prepared."

Stephen Hicock has taught a wide spectrum of courses since joining the Department of Earth Sciences in 1983.

Hicock, who has consistently obtained some of the highest student ratings, also received the UWO Faculty of Science Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1999.

He places a great emphasis on learning outside of the classroom and is involved in various outreach programs, says SUTA. In addition, he has produced some of the best and informative "hall decorations" in the University through use of photographs, diagrams and displays throughout the halls of B&G.