by Jennifer Schneider
Staff Writer
Three Appalachian professors received teaching awards from the University
of North Carolina Board of Governors and Appalachian State University.
Department of English professor Dr. Thomas A. McGowan, associate
professor in the department of marketing Dr. Eva M. Hyatt and associate
professor in the department of finance Dr. Don R. Cox are the 2003
Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching award winners.
“The award recognizes teachers from each of the 16 UNC universities,”
Cox said.
A committee at Appalachian nominated a variety of professors. If
the professors accepted the nomination, they were asked to prepare
information documenting their experiences.
The committees then reviewed the information and choose one key
winner (McGowan) who receives a bronze medallion and a $7,500 cash
prize and a few others to be recognized and given smaller awards.
“It is a nice thing to happen,” McGowan said. “It
makes me more aware that there are a lot of good teachers that do
things in a lot of different kinds of ways.”
McGowan, who has been a professor at Appalachian since 1972, said
he always likes things happening.
“I don’t like things being boring, which can be dangerous,”
McGowan said.
McGowan had a military career before becoming a professor and says
he brings things to class from his experiences.
“I teach a lot of interesting stuff that I get credit for,”
McGowan said. “I think English majors don’t expect certain
classes to be interesting and I get credit for making it interesting
when it already was to begin with.”
“McGowan is a great inspirational guy,” Cox said.
“Winning scares the hell out of me,” McGowan said. “You
now have to try to be good, it really is challenging. As far as
I am concerned, this is the last teaching award I will ever receive.
It is all downhill from here, but you just have to keep working.”
Hyatt believes that teaching and learning go hand-in-hand. In a
recent reception held for the three professors, she is quoted as
saying: “for me, education and learning are always tied into
fun.”
“It is interesting to see everyone’s background,”
McGowan said. “Hyatt is interested in a whole bunch of things.”
“Learn something new every day,” Hyatt said to her colleagues
at the reception.
“I was surprised and honored,” Cox said about being
recognized. “I enjoy teaching and I am always trying to improve
and get better, but I don’t consider myself an extraordinary
teacher.”
Cox never had a goal to be a teacher. He started out as a project
manager for an industrial company. It wasn’t until he got
involved in executive training he found his interest for teaching.
“I’ve been at Appalachian for a little over 10 years
now,” Cox said. “It is a great place to be.”
“It is really nice to be recognized,” McGowan said,
“but you still have to grade papers and teach courses.”
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