2012 faculty essay contest is ?A Tribute to the Teaching-Learning ...

Three students have been named the top winners of the 2012 Student Essay Writing Contest, sponsored by the Faculty Association of Paradise Valley Community College.

?A Tribute to the Teaching-Learning Relationship,? celebrates the college?s core value of teaching and learning. During the spring semester of 2012, currently enrolled students of PVCC, as well as former PVCC students/alumni, were invited to submit a 750- to 1,000-word essay in which they celebrate an inspiring PVCC teacher-student learning relationship. A professional writer from outside the MCCCD community judged the entries.

Julie Mataway was awarded first place for her essay titled ?My Inspired Journey,? a tribute to Dr. Marianne Roccaforte, Counseling. Second place went to Tyler Gafke for his essay titled ?Instrumental Teachings,? a tribute to Dr. Casey Durandet, Physics. Third place was awarded to Marian Kamlin for her tribute to Jeanne Franco, CPA, Business, titled ?Meeting Challenges with Jeanne Franco.?

The excerpts below are from the essay submissions to see how students appreciate the excellence and commitment of PVCC faculty to educate, inspire, and help students succeed in college.

Professor Jeanne Franco

There are good professors, bad professors and mediocre professors. And then there are the great professors who make learning something special. Ms. Jeanne Franco is one of the great professors.? From the critical use of an excellent textbook, to focused lectures that encourage questions, to liberal use of Blackboard technology, to creative in-class problems for our groups to work on, to yet more creative computer applications for us to use in the Blackboard environment, Ms. Franco lets no opportunity to teach pass her by.? I now realize?how effectively a challenging course delivered with humor, credibility and openness can boost a student?s confidence and a student?s ability to learn the subject matter.

?[Professor]Franco taught her students much more than processing numbers and balancing accounts. She took time to explain the logic and reasons behind the guidelines and practices.? Even though a lot of the students were not in the Accounting major, she truly wanted them to be able to use the concepts in real-life situations.?After one-and-a-half semesters of taking Ms. Franco?s classes, I gained confidence in verbal communication, but furthermore, I was able to have more fun in my academic journey.

?ASTRONOMY

Professor Jennifer Weitz

[T]the most important thing that I noticed is that Professor Weitz made learning fun each day. It was easy to see that she too was having fun teaching.? She shows sincere empathy with her students, when it is warranted and without showing favoritism. She wants to see her students succeed.? She has been a wonderful mentor.? She is a caring and respected professor. Professor Weitz cares about making learning enjoyable and fun while covering the necessary topics for the class. She is eager and willing to answer even the most complex questions from students, with scientific explanations, in detail that students understand.

Dr. Marianne Roccaforte

Dr. Roccaforte is patient and kind, and I always leave her office inspired. I can truly say that because of her encouragement and direction I can now visualize myself doing something every day that I love. She has helped me believe that I have the ability to accomplish what I set my mind to do. Yet she does more?she helps me find the right tools and instructions on how to use them. It is hard to find the words to describe what an asset this wise, empathetic counselor and teacher is to me and my fellow students. It was as if she was put on this earth to inspire others. I am happy to have been in her path as she follows her destiny.

Because of Professor Roccaforte?s belief in my writing, I have not only continued to write, but I am now using my gift to encourage others who are going through difficult times. After putting my writing on hold for almost three years, I recaptured my zeal, which led me to a major that I am excited to pursue.

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CREATIVE WRITING / ENGLISH

Dr. Lois Roma-Deeley

?Dr. Roma-Deeley?s?love of the written word and of facilitating intelligent conversation between people who love knowledge is contagious.? [She] teaches her students to consider the many lenses through which we all view the world, including family, background, books read, education, and countless other filters which influence our perceptions and our writing.? [Professor Roma-Deeley] invites individuals to write and speak their truths.? Lois knows her students, [and she] gives 100 percent of herself.? She inspires students with a love of words, a love of story, or for that matter a love of life itself.

?EDUCATION

Professor Ana Stigsson

Through my whole life I have always.?said to myself, ?Helping one person can change the world.? I realized the best way to do this was to become a teacher.? This new goal brought me to work at a preschool and, more importantly, to a seat in Ana Stigsson?s course. Immediately I realized that I was in a loving, comfortable place filled with color and ideas. Not only [that], but she had an underlying message for me that will resonate for the rest of my life.? [O]ne three-year-old [at my preschool] seemed like he was never mentally available during lessons in the classroom. I remembered a quote that Ana had told me: ?One thing can affect a child for the rest of their life.? Walking over to the boy in the chair I extended my hand.? His eyes began to grow bigger and his smile stretched across his face.? [W]ith my new open eyes, I am going to try to change the lives of other children whom people have given up on. Through Ana Stigsson?s teaching, ?one thing? she said affected the rest of my life.

?HUMANITIES

Professor Gary Zaro

The impact an instructor has on a student can last a lifetime.? Seeing [Professor Gary Zaro?s] passion for movies and the arts has inspired me to live my dreams.? [He] brings a passion to his classroom that cannot be faked. He comes to every class with a smile on his face.? He really cares about his students.? He encourages the class to analyze the movies and perpetuates the wheels in our minds to turn.? Seeing a teacher who loves what he does gives me hope to think people can live their dreams.? Gary has written me a letter of recommendation that.?helped me realize my strengths. That letter recharged my motivation. I felt like my hard work was finally appreciated. I finally was aware I am an excellent student and someone else noticed.

Dr. Casey Durandet

Dr. Casey Durandet,?you have been a teacher, mentor, and friend unlike any other I have ever met. You are an amazing physics teacher, demanding the most of your students in one breath and motivating them to push themselves and reach their potential in the next. You have an ability to inspire, motivate, and encourage your students to improve and excel, in the classroom and more importantly, in life.? You inspire, encourage, and drive me to set the bar higher as I reach my goals and help me to get back up when I fall short.

Have you ever had a teacher who changed your perspective on a subject you thought you would never enjoy? I have been lucky enough to have a teacher like this. [Dr. Durandet?s] teachings have inspired me to continue my education in the field of physics.? She always got right to the point of the lesson and taught us the important portions which we would need for future classes, as well as future tests. The majority of class time was used to set up challenging problems which we would then take home to finish solving for homework; [this] allowed us to see how to begin to think about the problem.? She would make sure to relate the current section we were discussing to real-life experiences?. [S]he truly enjoys teaching.

?SPANISH

Dr. David Rub?

Never did I think?that enrolling in a Spanish course would impact me as much as it did.? [W]hen Professor Rub? entered the room?he was charismatic, enthusiastic, and provided a comfortable environment for those that feared embarrassment when speaking the language.? He very much opened my eyes to all the opportunities I had within my reach,?illustrating to me that I was underestimating my capabilities and that I should never doubt my ability to achieve greatness.? Professor Rub??.helped realize my own potential, and taught me not to fear failure. He inspired me to do something that I love, and watching his love for teaching encouraged me to inspire others the way he inspired me.

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