Apr
22
Huron, Ohio – Several awards were recently presented at the 44th annual Bowling Green State University Firelands College Recognition Program held Friday, April 19, in the Cedar Point Center.
Victor Odafe, Amherst, received the Distinguished Creative Scholar Award; Sylvia Hermo-Fedro, Avon Lake, received the Dean’s Special Recognition Award; and the Caryl Crane Youth Theatre received the Links to Progress Award.
Distinguished Creative Scholar Award
Odafe, recently promoted to full professor of mathematics at BGSU Firelands, has been with BGSU Firelands since 1993. His teaching experience dates back to 1974 and includes positions at the University of Hartford, Conn., Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., Delta State University, Nigeria, and Mokwa Teacher’s College, Nigeria.
Odafe has authored more than 20 publications at the international, national, and regional levels and presented at dozens of academic conferences. His work in the area of assessment in mathematics earned him the honor of being one of four nationally invited panelists on the topic at the 2013 Joint Mathematics Meetings in San Diego.
He previously served on the Executive Board of Ohio Association for the Study of Cooperation in Education and was a member of the Ohio Department of Education Committee that evaluated the mathematics teacher preparation programs in Ohio universities. He has been the chair of the Department of Natural and Social Sciences at BGSU Firelands since 2008.
In addition to receiving the Distinguished Creative Scholar Award in 2008, Odafe also received the BGSU Leadership as a Chair/School Director Award in 2013, BGSU Authors & Artists Award in 2011, 2012, and 2013, the BGSU Firelands Distinguished Teacher Award in 1999, and the University of Massachusetts Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Award in 1992.
“As a math educator, Dr. Odafe’s teaching reflects cutting edge techniques based on the professional literature and he is exemplary teacher who is gifted at sharing his knowledge with future math educators. Victor is highly regarded for his commitment to teaching, his excellence as an instructor, and his efforts to prepare his students for successful careers,” said his nominator.
The Distinguished Creative Scholar Award may be given annually to any full-time BGSU Firelands faculty member (in his/her third year or beyond) for outstanding scholarly or creative accomplishments during the previous three years. For purposes of this award, scholarship is defined in the broadest of terms to include scholarship of discovery, integration, application, or teaching.
Dean’s Special Recognition Award
Sylvia Hermo-Fedro, lecturer and director of the radiologic technology program, has been with BGSU Firelands since 2005. She also has nearly 30 years of professional experience with the EMH/Regional Healthcare Systems and Amherst Hospital.
Hermo-Fedro earned a master’s degree in business administration from Tiffin University and a bachelor’s degree in allied health from Youngstown State University.
Hermo-Fedro is also a registered radiographer with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Ohio Department of Health.
“Sylvia has been instrumental in growing the program over the past eight years and in preparing all of the documentation for the new diagnostic medical sonography program,” said Hermo-Fedro’s nominator. “She is an asset to BGSU Firelands and her teaching excellence in and service to RADT program is to be highly commended. Under her leadership, the program has been recognized nationally for excellence.”
The Dean’s Special Recognition Award may be given annually to individual faculty members, administrators, classified staff, or members of collaborative teams who have made exceptionally meritorious contributions in support of the mission of BGSU Firelands. Awards may be used to recognize career achievements as well as recent accomplishments.
Links to Progress Award
For 28 years, the Caryl Crane Children’s Theatre, newly renamed the Caryl Crane Youth Theatre has been a centerpiece of the community. The theatre has provided quality, university-based acting opportunities and theater instruction to hundreds, if not thousands of children and adults in Erie and surrounding counties.
Theatre Director and CCCT alum Brian Marshall has expanded the vision of Caryl Crane, creating more opportunities for aspiring actors of all ages and established a core of young leaders – the CCYT Teen Advisory Board – to carry the mission of Caryl Crane Youth Theatre into high schools throughout the region. This outreach, combined with challenging productions and a record-breaking box office, have made the Caryl Crane Youth Theatre an invaluable part of BGSU Firelands.
The Links to Progress Award is presented to the person or organization of the campus community that has been a significant link in the chain of growth of BGSU Firelands. This person or organization must have been instrumental in linking the college to the broader human community.
For additional information or photos, contact Dean Schnurr, director of marketing and community relations, at 419.372.0613 or via e-mail at dschnur@bgsu.edu
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