Awards & Distinction
University Honors Program Awards for Excellence
W. Robert Parks Honors Commendations
2005 – 2006 UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM
AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
Each year the University Honors Program confers two awards for excellence: one for Excellence in Honors Teaching and one for Excellence in
Honors Mentoring and Advising. Nominations for these awards come from faculty and administrators. Winners are then selected by a committee of
Honors faculty, staff, and students on the basis of their commitment to Honors students and Honors education.
Award for Excellence in Honors Teaching - Dr. Alan Myers
Dr. Alan Myers
Dr. Myers first contributed to the Honors Program as a member of the College of LAS Honors Committee from 1992-1994. During that time, the
members of the committee were asked to consider offering an Honors seminar for the upcoming semester. Dr. Myers volunteered to offer a seminar
now entitled “Tolkien’s Mythology” partly in order to fill the need within the Honors Program, but more importantly because he felt that his
scholarship in Tolkin’s literature and his great enthusiasm for the subject might provide the basis for a course that students would find valuable.
Since 1994, Dr. Myers has taught Tolkien’s Mythology approximately 10 times with at least a minimum of 12 students in each section. Dr. Myers has
continued his Honors teaching while he has been serving as Department Chair of the Biochemistry Department since 2000, again showing his willingness
to take on an extra assignment to contribute to the University Honors Program. His seminar is interesting, engaging, and inspiring to the students
who have been fortunate enough to take it, and the Honors Program is fortunate to have Dr. Myers as a collaborating faculty member supporting
Honors education at all levels.
Award for Excellence in Honors Advising and Mentoring - Dr. Jacek Koziel
Dr. Jacek Koziel
Dr. Koziel has been an active mentor for the Freshman Honors Mentor Program since Spring 2005 and has worked with three Honors freshmen from
the College of Engineering. He has been awarded the University Honors Program Mentoring/Advising Award in recognition of his work in academic advising
of Honors students, advising of Honors projects, and mentoring of students in the Freshman Honors Mentor Program. He has provided students the
opportunity to work on projects relevant to the Iowa livestock and poultry industries, and multidisciplinary projects. He firmly believes these
experiences proved the Honors students with a better understanding of the potential impact engineers have on our society and the world. Dr. Koziel
is very passionate about student learning, mentoring, and students’ ultimate success in their professional careers. Dr. Koziel is a dedicated teacher
and most effective advisor, as described by one of his students, and is exactly the kind of student advisor/mentor we want at Iowa State University
who motivate students to excel through learning.
2005 – 2006 W. ROBERT PARKS
HONORS COMMENDATIONS
Each year the W. Robert Parks Honors Commendations are awarded to a faculty member, a friend, and a student associated
with the University Honors Program. Honors students nominate individuals in each of the three categories who have
demonstrated outstanding contributions to the Honors Program. The Honors Student Board (HSB) then selects the recipients.
To nominate an individual for next year's Parks Awards, click here to download the form.
These are the words of the nominators of:
Student Award: Lisa Willman, senior, Architecture:
Lisa Willman
During her career at Iowa State, Lisa has let very few opportunities pass her by, especially those associated with the Honors Program.
Lisa has been involved with HSB since her freshman year on Anders when she started as a House Representative on HSB. Since then she
has become the Intramural Chair and will serve her third term as IM Chair this upcoming year. Lisa also helps with all of the
designing needs of HSB. She has designed logos for Intramural events and has also stepped up to design logos for the University
Honors Program, utilizing her wonderful graphic design talents. She is a joy to work with and be around in general. She is very
helpful at every HSB event, even if they are not her own, and younger HSB members know they can go to her for help or support. In
addition to her involvement with HSB, Lisa also serves as a student representative on the University Honors Committee and sits on
the Grants Sub-Committee. She is a voice of reason at the meetings and provides a realistic and thoughtful student view to the group.
Even though she is taking three majors, she still finds the time to help out at every Honors event and activity she can, and does so
with a smile on her face. She deserves this award as formal recognition of her hard work and dedication to the University Honors Program
and HSB throughout her time at ISU.
Friend Award: Tom Becker, Associate Director, Freshmen Admissions:
Tom Becker
Before students even begin their careers at Iowa State they must first decided that ISU is the right place for them, and that’s where
Tom Becker’s job comes in. Becker, an Associate Director in the Office of Admissions, has been a friend to the Honors Program by helping
students through the decision-making process of selecting a college. Working with high ability students, Tom Becker is often the first
staff member a prospective student meets during his or her visit to campus. His encouragement and expertise about the programs here, including
the Honors Program, excites and interests the students. With years of experience recruiting students to ISU, Tom strongly recommends the
Freshman Honors Program to those he feels will thrive within such a community. He once said regarding his job, “ISU is not a hard sell… because
I love what I do.” Tom has a passion for what he does and has been, and continues to be, an excellent asset and friend to the Honors Program.
Faculty Award: Quinn Warnick, Instructor, English Department:
Quinn Warnick
Quinn Warnick was an instructor for English 105H section 7, Documentaries, last fall. He is known by his students to have a great attitude
in class and a good sense of humor. The student who nominated Warnick said, “I thought one of Quinn's most impressive traits was his devotion
to his students, even outside of class. Despite being a grad student still and having a wife and daughter, he made sure we knew that if we needed
any help or had any questions, we could talk to him.” He also challenged students to use new and unfamiliar software. Many members of the class
were at first a little overwhelmed, especially with learning html code and then designing a professional-looking site with it, but calmed their
nerves and helped them learn the process. He had such faith in the students and was so strongly there to work through their problems in and out
of class; in the end, everyone presented an impressive final project. With all the directions Quinn could go in his career, he wants to stay in
teaching. He's passionate about it, and his students mean the world to him. Quinn deserves to be acknowledged for all that he meant to his honors
students last fall, and for all that he will be for students he will continue to impact in the future.
