In a celebration of all things graduate student, the University recognized 10 extraordinary teaching assistants at the Graduate Student Center on Locust Walk on Wednesday.
Nominations were solicited through The Daily Pennsylvanian and mass e-mails. The search committee received 268 nominations for 198 TAs -- a massive return that many said reflects the high quality of graduate student teaching at Penn.
"If there ever is a complaint about research universities, it's that there are graduate students in the classroom," said University President Judith Rodin during a brief speech to the TAs and their guests. "The number of nominations truly reflects the impact you are having."
The award-winning graduate students were Mathematics student Daniel Cain, Ancient History student Melody Mark, Political Science student David Faris, Fine Arts student Suchitra Mattai, English student Alexine Fleck, History of Art student Stephennie Mulder, Marketing student Noah Lim, Biology student Mike Smith, Economics student Christopher Makler and Management student Shane Yu.
Rodin, Vice Provost Peter Conn, School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Studies Chairman Walter Licht and other high-profile administrators abounded at the event. Each took time to personally thank the TAs for their contributions to the University and the University for funding and perpetuating the award.
Conn and Licht also highlighted the cooperation and positive relations between Penn and its graduate student community that the award and the Graduate Student Center itself -- whose third floor was recently refinished and opened for use this past week -- represent.
"What I love about this prize is it began as an experiment conceived by graduate students," Licht said. He also noted that before the tradition of undergraduates directly nominating TAs began, selections were made internally by departments, often allowing "the department that put together the glossiest folder [to] win."
Wharton freshman Danielle Qi, who served on the search committee, described the new selection process.
"We all kind of fought for our candidates," she said, noting that students on the committee tended to look for "putting in time and obvious effort," while faculty tended to weigh "pedagogical skills" more heavily.
The 198 original nominees were narrowed down to 23 by the search committee. Finalists then had one week to write personal statements explaining their teaching philosophy. The 10 winners were awarded certificates of merit, $500 checks and a photo opportunity with Rodin.
Fleck, whose work as a TA in the English Department earned her one of the 10 slots, wore a homemade Graduate Employees Together-University of Pennsylvania badge to the ceremony.
"I forgot the button," Fleck lamented, explaining why she was wearing a piece of masking tape with "GET-UP!" written in blue marker on her blouse.
A veteran teacher with a decade of experience between the West Philadelphia High School's dropout prevention program and a stint at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst "as a unionized worker" before coming to Penn, Fleck said that she believed the administration's effort to recognize excellence in graduate student teaching was "generous."
"I don't think they're trying to mollify me," she said. "I believe it's quite genuine."
