Awards and Nominations
The College of Business, Industry, Life and Agriculture (BILSA) highly values the various efforts of our staff, alumni, students, and faculty. Their superior performance is critical to fulfilling the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s mission and we are forever grateful.
Lindahl Excellence in Teaching Award- Dr. Sameer Ahmed
Sameer Ahmed is the recipient of the 2024 Thomas and Lee Ann Lindahl Teaching Excellence Award. Sameer began at UW-Platteville in 2019 as an Assistant Professor in the School of Business specializing in Human Resource Management. Dr. Ahmed states “I firmly believe that the learning process should be an ongoing cycle in which students not only gain knowledge, but also practice using it and acquire experience through performance.”
Outstanding Academic Advisor- Eric Rimel
Eric Rimel is the recipient of the 2024 BILSA Outstanding Advisor award. Eric began his career with UW-Platteville in 2008 as faculty in Industrial Studies with expertise in drafting, wood technology and metal technology. Eric typically advises 50-60 applied engineering students each semester.
His nominator stated that Eric “is particularly talented in advising transfer students and students with academic issues.” His connections with industry are a valuable asset as he works hard to assist his advisees in finding internships and permanent jobs.
Outstanding Employee- Jake Riniker
Talk about going above and beyond. Dr. Hollingsworth commented, “Students find him super approachable and helpful and makes sure material is presented in an understandable way.” Jake is also always willing to teach whatever we need help with, a real team player.
Strohm Excellence in Teaching Award- Dr. Chris Baxter
Chris Baxter is the recipient of the 2024 Jerry and Barbara Strohm Award for Excellence in Teaching. Chris joined his alma mater, UW-Platteville, in 2003 as faculty in the School of Agriculture and as a Nutrient Management Specialist for UW Extension. Chris teaches in both the Ecological Restoration and Soil & Crop Science programs.
Some of Baxter’s highlights in teaching include incorporating high impact practices into courses, leading STFL’s, mentoring undergraduate research, and attending professional conferences with students.
Chris also coaches the soils team which has won more national and international contests than any other school. Chris has a personal connection to Dr. Strohm having had him as a professor while studying at UW-Platteville.
Distinguished Employee- Dr. Mark Zidon
Mark has earned many accolades throughout
his career including the Underkofler Teaching Excellence Award, Wisconsin
Teaching Fellow Award, American Association for Ag Education Outstanding Ag
Educator award, Honorary American FFA Degree and Distinguished Service awards
from both the North Dakota Ag Teachers Association and the Wisconsin FFA. Jodi gives a special shout out to Mark for
working with her on her master’s degree and serving as her doctoral
dissertation advisor.
Lindahl Excellence in Teaching Award- Eric Rimel
An
alum commented, “Professor
Rimel's classes are a prime representation of how theory meets hands-on
experience, and he urges the importance of non-traditional but logical thought
processes. He truly cares about the quality of education his students receive
and steadily works to secure co-ops, internships, and full-time jobs for them.”
Outstanding Academic Advisor- David Heimerdinger
In 2020, David joined the faculty as an assistant professor in both ag engineering technology and industrial studies. His advising and academic coaching skills were evident early on. David has advised as many as 120 students in a semester from a variety of majors. He has also served on advising committees, workgroups, and has presented workshops on advising topics. His nominator extolled his skills especially in regard to the advising of the difficult population of transfer students.
In addition to being named the BILSA
Outstanding Advisor for 2023, David was also chosen as the University Faculty
Academic Advisor of the Year and he was UW-Platteville’s nominee for the
Wisconsin Academic Advising Association faculty advising award. This is the
second time David has been recognized as an outstanding academic advisor by the
college, the first being in 2007.
Outstanding Employee- Dr. Lucie Kadjo
Dr. Kadjo has earned SAIF and PACCE funding for
projects. Perhaps one of Lucie’s biggest endeavors is leading the National
Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) to the national agri-marketing competition
each year.
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Nomination forms are due March 15 of each year.
- Outstanding Alumnus Award
- Outstanding BILSA Employee Award
- Distinguished BILSA Employee Award
- Thomas and Lee Ann Lindahl Teaching Excellence Award
- Outstanding BILSA Academic Advisor
- Jerry and Barbara Strohm Award for Excellence in Teaching
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This award acknowledges extraordinary contributions to the College by a current employee with less than 10 years of service to the college. He or she should have demonstrated excellence of performance in their job tasks. In addition, the person will have gone above and beyond job expectations to provide outstanding service to the College. Secondary consideration is given for service to the university and/or community. Posthumous nominations will not be accepted.
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This award acknowledges extraordinary contributions to the College by a current or former employee with 10 years or more service to the College. He or she should have demonstrated excellence of performance in their job tasks. In addition, the person will have gone above and beyond job expectations to provide outstanding service to the College. Secondary consideration is given for service to the university and/or community. Posthumous nominations will not be accepted.
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The Thomas and Lee Ann Lindahl Teaching Excellence Award recognizes faculty and instructional academic staff in the College of BILSA who demonstrate high teaching standards and clearly demonstrate a commitment to students.
Specific criteria to be considered in the selection of the recipients of this award include the following:
- Excellent student evaluations of instruction in a variety of courses,
- Recognition of excellence in instruction by one’s peers within a department/school,
- Recognition of excellence in teaching materials, curriculum, teaching techniques, and strategies by one’s peers within a discipline and with others outside the immediate college and university,
- Recognition of excellence in advising of students over an extended period of time,
- Recognition of superior service to students through student organizations and activities,
- Development of teaching materials and activities that are shared with peers to assist in their teaching activities for teaching improvement,
- Assistance provided to students who are seeking positions for internships, placement, and graduate education,
- Other efforts and activities that indicate excellence in teaching and serving students.
The amount of the annual professional development award will be based on the annual earnings of the endowment and the growth of the endowment principal itself. Posthumous nominations will not be accepted.
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Effective advising is a high-impact practice in relation to student retention. The recipients of the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award exemplify the best qualities of faculty and academic staff advisors. The award will consist of a $500 professional development grant and recognition on our BILSA Outstanding Advisor commemorative plaque. Advisors are eligible to win this award every seven years.
BILSA faculty or academic staff that serve as an academic advisor to students are eligible to receive the award. Evidence of qualities and practices that distinguish the nominee as an outstanding academic advisor may include:
- Strong interpersonal skills,
- Frequency of contact with advisees,
- Appropriate referral activity,
- Use and dissemination of appropriate information sources,
- Caring, helpful attitude toward advisees, faculty and staff,
- Availability to advisees, faculty and staff,
- Evidence of student success rate, by advisor or department,
- Advisee or unit evaluations (summary data)
- Monitoring of student progress toward academic and career goals,
- Participation in and support of intrusive advising,
- Mastery of institutional regulations, policies and procedures,
- Ability to engage in, promote, and support developmental advising,
- Participation in and support of advising development programs,
- Perception by colleagues of nominee's advising skills.
The nomination process begins by the submission of a letter of nomination by students, colleagues, or the advisor. The selection committee chair will then ask the nominee for a letter that describes his or her advising philosophy and related experiences as well as the number of advisees for which the advisor is responsible.
Nominees may also submit up to three letters of support from colleagues and/or students, with no more than two of the letters coming from students. Posthumous nominations will not be accepted.
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The Jerry and Barbara Strohm Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes faculty in the College of BILSA (even years) and the College of LA&E (odd years) who demonstrate high teaching standards and clearly demonstrate a commitment to students.
Specific criteria to be considered in the selection of the recipients of this award include the following:
- Excellent student evaluations of instruction in a variety of courses,
- Recognition of excellence in instruction by one’s peers within a department/school,
- Recognition of excellence in teaching materials, curriculum, teaching techniques, and strategies by one’s peers within a discipline and with others outside the immediate college and university,
- Recognition of excellence in advising of students over an extended period of time,
- Recognition of superior service to students through student organizations and activities,
- Development of teaching materials and activities that are shared with peers to assist in their teaching activities for teaching improvement,
- Assistance provided to students who are seeking positions for internships, placement, and graduate education,
- Other efforts and activities that indicate excellence in teaching and serving students.
The award will consist of $500 towards professional development and a plaque. Posthumous nominations will not be accepted.