Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship
Each year, an award is presented to a current Elizabethtown College faculty member to commend and celebrate excellence in advising and mentoring students toward successful graduate school placement and/or careers. The Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship, which has been made possible through the generosity of Dr. Mary E. Schmidt ’79 and Dr. Russell Libby, is named in honor of Dr. Frank P. Polanowski, Associate Professor of Biology Emeritus, for his inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College.
Members of the Elizabethtown College community (students, faculty, administrators/staff, and alumni) are encouraged to nominate a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in advising and mentoring. Current full-time faculty members who have taught at the College for at least three years are eligible. To nominate a faculty member, please choose from the drop-down list and provide a brief (250-500 word) statement describing the reasons why the nominated faculty member is deserving of the award. Please note that should your nominee not receive the award in this cycle, your nomination will be included for two additional years in 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.
Questions about the nomination process may be directed to Dana Maulfair, Assistant to the Associate Provosts at 717-361-3734 or maulfaird@etown.edu.
2022 - 2023 Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship Recipient
Jane Cavender
The selection committee noted Dr. Cavender’s commitment to her students’ success through outstanding mentorship and advising. Students shared how she immediately made a positive impact on their education that begins during their freshman year and continues beyond their time at Elizabethtown College, as a majority of her students pursue graduate degrees in the biomedical field.
Dr. Cavender mentors between five to ten research students in her lab each semester and has served as the Internship Director for the Biology Department, a role that goes beyond her college duties and academic load. Other notable achievements highlight Dr. Cavender’s involvement with Masonic Village. Within the last five years, she has created a Certified Nursing Program that allows students to earn direct patient hours, a requirement for students who enter the Physician Assistant programs and other related medical fields.
Congratulations, Dr. Cavender, for the recognition and celebration of your advising and mentoring!
Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising & Mentorship (past recipients)
- 2021-22 - Jeff Rood
- 2020-21 - Hossein Varamini
- 2019-20 - Bryan Greenberg
- 2018-19 - Anya Goldina
Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence
The generosity of an alumnus has made possible an annual award to a current Elizabethtown College faculty member for excellence in teaching and mentoring. The award is named in honor of J. Kenneth Kreider, professor of history emeritus, and Carroll L. Kreider, professor of business emerita "for their inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College." The Kreiders were not only inspirational in the classroom, but were also powerful mentors and role models.
The Elizabethtown College Community (students, faculty and staff members, and alumni) are encouraged to nominate a faculty member whose teaching, mentoring and leadership on campus are inspirational to current and former students. Current full-time faculty members who have taught at the College for at least three years are eligible. Choose from the drop-down list and write a brief (250-500 word) statement on why the nominated faculty member is deserving of the award. The deadline for nominations is now closed. Please note: If you nominated a faculty member last year, you do not need to resubmit the nomination. Your nomination will be considered along with new nominations submitted this year.
The faculty Professional Development Committee (PDC) and a representative group of current students will choose the recipient of the Kreider Prize from the list of faculty members who were nominated by at least three of the following constituencies: alumni, current students, faculty, and administrators/staff. Members of the PDC may be nominated, but they will not be eligible for the award until their service on the committee has ended. You are welcomed to encourage members of other constituencies in the Elizabethtown College community to support the faculty member you have nominated. The recipient of the Kreider Prize will be announced mid-April.
Questions about the nomination process may be directed to Dana Maulfair, Assistant to the Associate Provosts at 717-361-3734 or maulfaird@etown.edu.
2022 - 2023 Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence Recipient
Brenda Daily
The 2022-2023 recipient of the Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence is Brenda Read-Daily, Associate Professor of Engineering.
The Professional Development Committee chose Read-Daily from nominations submitted by alumni, current students, faculty, and staff. In addition to receiving a monetary award, Read-Daily will be invited to deliver the Kreider Prize Lecture next fall.
“The Professional Development Committee is pleased to select Dr. Brenda Read-Daily for the 2023 Kreider Prize,” Chair of the Professional Development Committee Kristi Arnold said. “Students, alumni, faculty, and staff praise her outstanding mentorship, excellence in teaching, and classroom engagement, as well as her advocacy of sustainable engineering.”
Nomination letters portray Read-Daily as an impactful and inspiring mentor to many. Students find her approachable, knowledgeable, and committed to their success and growth.
In addition to her dedication to mentorship, faculty mention their admiration for her teaching methodologies. Of note, is her application of Mastery-Based Learning in her classes and her use of an “Epic Finale” for her final exams. One faculty member stated after observing Dr. Read-Daily’s courses that they “always come away with new insights and inspirations.”
Kreider Prize Background: Through the generosity of Thomas Conner ’72, professor of history at Hillsdale College, the annual award is made possible and awarded to a current Elizabethtown College faculty member for excellence in teaching and mentoring. The award is named in honor of J. Kenneth Kreider, professor of history emeritus, and Carroll L. Kreider, professor of business emerita, “for their inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College.” The Kreiders were not only inspirational in the classroom but also were powerful mentors and role models.
Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence (past recipients)
- 2021-22 - Michael Roy
- 2020-21 - Judy Beck Ericksen ’80
- 2019-20 - E. Fletcher McClellan
- 2018-19 - Michele Kozmor ’93
- 2017-18 - Kurt DeGoede
- 2016-17 - J. Robert Spence
- 2015-16 - Edward Chung
- 2014-15 - Oya Ozkanca
Ranck Prize for Research Excellence
Robert O. Kerr ’64 and Mary Ann Kerr '64 established the Ranck Prize for Research Excellence as a permanent endowment to award a full-time faculty member of Elizabethtown College and to commend and celebrate excellence in research and commitment to his or her field of study. The prize honors John P. Ranck ’58, faculty member emeritus and former chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, for "his inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College."
Nominations may come from the candidate or from others (academics from the nominee’s field). Consistent with the Boyer model of scholarship, research is considered in the broadest context of understanding and includes peer-reviewed work in the areas of scholarship of discovery, the scholarship of integration, the scholarship of application/engagement, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. As such, “research” may be taken to include any of the following: publication or presentation of papers; publication of books and other scholarly material; exhibitions of art, theatrical or musical performances; and other items appropriate to the discipline.
2023 - 2024 Ranck Prize for Research Excellence Recipient
Michael Silberstein
The 2023-2024 recipient of the Ranck Prize for Research Excellence is Dr. Michael Silberstein, Professor of Philosophy. The Professional Development Committee chose Silberstein from nominations submitted by faculty peers. In addition to receiving a monetary award and a supplement to his professional development fund to support ongoing scholarly activity, he will deliver remarks during Scholarship and Creative Arts Day (SCAD) on April 23, 2024. More details to follow.
Dr. Silberstein is commended for his outstanding contribution to his field and collaborative research. Most notably, he is recognized for his breadth of research interests and scholarly output. Recent contributions include book publications through Oxford University Press such as, "Beyond the Dynamical Universe (2018)" and a forthcoming book, "Emergence in Context: A Treatise in 21st Century Natural Philosophy." Likewise, Dr. Silberstein's desire to merge philosophy and science is evident through his contribution to various scholarly disciplines ranging from publications in the journal Philosophy of Science to the Foundations of Physics. Additionally, the committee was impressed by his commitment to collaborative research with Etown faculty in the sciences over the last 20+ years.
Ranck Prize for Research Excellence (past recipients)
- 2022-23 - James MacKay
- 2021-22 - Oya Dursun-Özkanca
- 2020-21 - Jeffery Long
- 2019-20 - Susan Mapp
- 2018-19 - E. Douglas Bomberger
- 2017-18 - April Kelly