Elmo Calvin, the interim president of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, honored 11 faculty members with a presidential award for six categories during the Faculty Awards Convocation on Thursday.
“We’re here to celebrate another great year for the Health Science Center,” Calvin said. “Our university is stronger than ever because of our faculty and staff. Without them, none of this would be possible.”
James Dembowski, Alyce Ashcroft, Barry Lombardini and Manuel Rivera were awarded the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
“It’s always nice to be honored,” Dembowski said. “The students had a big part in this award. They had to write things that must have not been very bad. I’m very honored and flattered that my students think highly of me.”
The President’s Young Investigation Award was given to German T. Hernandez and Paul Lockman.
The President’s Outstanding Clinician Award was given to Joanna Wilson and Frankie B. Sims while Afzal Siddiqui was awarded the President’s Excellence in Research Award.
For her involvement in two outstanding community projects — the Stork’s Nest Baby Shower and Teen Straight Talk — Linda Brice was awarded the President’s Excellence in Community Engagement Award.
“Part of the reason I was engaged in both (the Stork’s Nest Baby Shower and Teen Straight Talk) was because if a woman who can’t afford health care is pregnant, we want them to be able to receive prenatal care,” she said. “There has been more than 178,000 baby items made available through the Stork’s Nest Baby Shower. I try and teach my students how wonderful it is to give back to the community in which we serve.”
The last award given was the President’s Outstanding Professor Award, which was given to Thomas F. McGovern.
“All of my life, I have admired teachers,” McGovern said. “To be nominated by my colleagues is very humbling. I feel I have been honored as one special teacher among many special teachers here at the Health Science Center. It is truly a wonderful place to be.”