Two Black Hawk College employees recently received the Golden Apple Award from the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter at the Quad-Cities Campus.
Cori Pullen and MaryBeth Stopoulous
Akos Tiwa and MaryBeth Stopoulous
Dr. Emily Lehman and Abby Sancken
During the honor society’s Fall 2022 Induction Ceremony, the Golden Apple Award was presented to:
- Dr. Emily Lehman, professor of biology, nominated by PTK member Abby Sancken
- MaryBeth Stopoulos, assistant professor of biology, nominated by PTK members Cori Pullen and Akos Tiwa
Dr. Lehman’s “passion for teaching is evident,” Sancken wrote in her nomination. She has “supported me as I prepare to transfer and has expressed interest in my journey. Because of her excellent teaching and interpersonal skills, Dr. Lehman is an excellent professor.”
Stopoulos, “is always willing to spend extra time if needed to help students,” Tiwa wrote in her nomination. “Her ways of teaching makes her classes less stressful for students.”
Pullen said Stopoulos makes sure her students have the resources to fully understand each concept. “She recognizes that not everyone learns the same way, and she embraces that to meet the needs of each student,” Pullen wrote in her nomination.
Each fall and spring semester, PTK students at the Quad-Cities Campus are asked to recommend a well-deserving faculty or staff member for the award. The first Golden Apple Award was presented at the chapter’s Spring 2019 induction ceremony.
The other Fall 2022 nominees and nominators were:
- Carolina Hart, science lab tech – nominated by Herbert Berko
- Dr. Jay Pearce, professor – nominated by Zach Hemmen
- Amy Smith, professor – nominated by Lauren Bloomquist
The chapter thanks the Phi Theta Kappa students who took the time to nominate faculty and staff members.