December Student Centeredness Award Winners
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| John Fedor |
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| Dr. Lisa Pescara-Kovach |
John Fedor, an educational specialist in the TRIO Student Support Services Program, and
Dr. Lisa Pescara-Kovach, assistant professor of educational psychology in the Department of Foundations of Education, were the unanimous choices among many strong nominees.
Pescara-Kovach, a nationally recognized expert on bullying and peer-on-peer aggression, is perpetuating the idea of students first by stressing the concept to her own students, many of whom plan to become teachers.
Student Breann Cantito nominated her: "Dr. Kovach has displayed student-centeredness by going the extra mile for her students. She keeps the best interest of the class always in mind."
Fedor recruits, advises and tutors for the TRIO Student Support Services Program, which provides eligible UT students the academic, social and financial support necessary to succeed on the collegiate level. He works with first-generation and low-income students, as well as students with disabilities.
Last spring he hosted a graduation party for a student who had struggled to complete her program, and he made sure his home was handicap-accessible so all of the students could join the celebration.
His nominator, Robin Stone, director of student support services in the Toledo Excel Program, wrote, "John has a teaching spirit that is not bound by the clock or his office door. He is a thoughtful listener and encourages students to think about their viewpoints, their convictions and their knowledge."