The purpose of the NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award is to recognize and reward graduate students who excel as teachers in the agricultural disciplines. The award is for NACTA graduate student members who are involved in classroom instruction. The NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award is a criterion-based award and is reviewed by a committee of NACTA members. To qualify for the award, a graduate student must have been involved in classroom teaching for a minimum of one year. Criteria included in the evaluation are the graduate student's teaching philosophy; statement of support from supervising faculty; evaluations submitted by students, administrative officers, and peers; a self-evaluation; and involvement in teaching outside the classroom. Recipients receive a plaque.

• Note: Be sure and include the NACTA Graduate Student Award Checklist!
• Applicants must hold a current Graduate Student Membership in NACTA or must send the membership form and check to the NACTA Secretary/Treasurer to be received by March 1st (see http://www.nactateachers.org/ ). Please indicate that you hold a current Graduate Student Membership in NACTA or indicate the date you postmarked your membership form and check. This will be verified with the Secretary/Treasurer.
• Nominee must have been involved in classroom instruction (including laboratory and discussion sections) for a minimum of one year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) or the equivalent.
• Must be a graduate student in good academic standing.

• An essay by the nominee on his or her teaching philosophy not to exceed five typewritten (double-spaced) pages.
• Statements of support from three to eight (suggested 6-8) Current or Former Students.
• Statement of support from a faculty member directly involved in the nominee's teaching activities.
• The nominee should provide a complete description of his or her specific teaching involvement.
• The nominee should provide a self-evaluation of his or her teaching activities.
• Statement(s) (one, but not more than three) of support from Administrator(s) directly related to the nominee's teaching activities.
• Statement(s) (one, but not more than three) of support from Peer(s) having knowledge about nominee's teaching activities.
• Statement about nominee's involvement in activities related to teaching but taking place outside of the classroom (clubs, review sessions, committees, etc.)

Attendance at annual meeting: Nominees should recognize that NACTA and sponsors expect awardee's to be present at the annual conference to receive their award. A consent of nomination implies that the nominee has an intention and, if selected for an award, will make a reasonable attempt to attend the annual conference. The 2009 annual conference will be held June 17 to 20 at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. All award recipients are expected to participate/make presentations at future NACTA conferences.

A photograph and short biography of each award recipient will be included in the awards program at the annual conference. Submit a biography not to exceed 250 words in WordPerfect or Word format, along with a good picture in the form of a JPG or GIF file (the larger/better quality, the better your picture will be). The biography and picture should be sent via e-mail to the Chair of the Teacher Recognition Committee.

Postmark deadline for all nomination materials is March 1, 2009.

First impressions do count. Some attention to neatness of organization, format, and presentation of dossiers can make a difference.

The nominator should submit four file copies for each person nominated. Receipt of the nomination packet will be acknowledged, so please be sure to include your e-mail address. Note: Copies of the file will not be returned, so the nominator should not submit the original file.

A cover page should include the following information:

• Name, title, professional address, telephone number, e-mail address of the nominator;
• Name, title, professional address, telephone number, e-mail address of the nominee;
• "Graduate Student Teaching Award Nomination" should be included on the cover page.

QUESTIONS?

Contact the Chair of the Teacher Recognition Committee.