AASU
Presents 2002 Faculty Service Awards
SAVANNAH, GA–– Armstrong Atlantic State University presented
awards to four of its distinguished faculty during the fall commencement
ceremony on Saturday, December 14. The awards were presented to the
faculty in recognition of their outstanding service to the university,
the community, their disciplines, and to teaching and learning. The
ceremony was held in AASU's Alumni Arena.
Armstrong Atlantic President Thomas Z. Jones presented the 2002 faculty
awards to the following professors:
The Award for Distinguished Service to the University was presented
to Olavi Arens, history, in recognition of his tireless efforts to improve
the university. A skilled veteran teacher, Arens actively engages in
the service life of the university while actively maintaining a productive
scholarly agenda. A demanding and highly effective teacher, he keeps
his students abreast of the latest developments in European affairs.
Arens has long provided outstanding leadership in the international
programs, representing AASU on the university system's European Council
and coordinating the Baltic Studies student exchange with Tartu University
in Estonia.
The Award for Distinguished Faculty Service to the Community was presented
to Meg Walworth, early childhood education, for her outstanding service
to local and neighboring communities. Walworth spearheaded an effort
to establish the The Book Cart, a program that supplies a variety of
children's books to pediatric patients recovering at St. Joseph's/Candler.
Volunteers are available to read to the children or they can check out
books on tape. Walworth has raised thousands of dollars to purchase
scores of books for the cart. Walworth's passion for literature and
concern for children has resulted in a program that is positively affecting
young patients in the community.
The Alumni Service to the Discipline Award was presented to Richard
Cebula, economics, for his significant contributions to the discipline
through research and scholarship. Cebula has published more than a dozen
scholarly books and in excess of 100 articles in major journals in economics,
finance, management, and business. A regional economist, he is arguably
the world's premier authority on the economics of geographic living
and cost differentials. Cebula is the elected president of the Academy
of Economics and Finance and is the first research fellow of the academy.
Who's Who in Economics: A Biographical Dictionary of the Major Economists,
1700-1996, listed Cebula as one of the 1,500 most influential economists
of the last three centuries.
The H. Dean Propst Award was presented to Janet Stone, history, in recognition
of her exemplary performance in the classroom and her record of service
at the university. The 1997-98 Regents' Distinguished Professor for
Teaching and Learning, she is a champion of the liberal arts tradition
at AASU. Stone effectively balances her commitment to academic rigor
with ongoing one-on-one contact with her students. This award is presented
to a full-time faculty member who has been outstanding in teaching and
learning, advisement, counseling, and the encouragement and support
of student involvement in academic and co-curricular activities. A recipient
is selected each year by AASU's Student Government Association.
December 13, 2002
