Students honor favorite professors at IU Art Museum appreciation reception

Before Thursday night's faculty appreciation reception, Roy Gardner, professor of economics and West European studies, never knew one of his students helped people with autism.\n"I never would have known," he said. "She was just someone in the middle of the third row."\nAt the reception, Gardner was able to speak with his student and learn of her volunteering efforts. Though the professors at the event weren't given individual honors, they were able to speak with students on a more personable level than during class. \nAbout 30 students and 15 educators got together outside the classroom for the reception at the IU Art Museum. The Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council sponsored the event, in which two students received scholarships.\nA similar function was held last year, but this year's event attracted twice as many people, said Marie Hershberger, PHA vice president of membership.\nHershberger attended chapter meetings to advertise the reception and distribute professor surveys, which allowed students to invite instructors. \n"Many invited professors who wrote them letters of recommendation," she said. "Many students don't know how to thank teachers, so this was a way faculty can be recognized."\nDean of Students Dick McKaig said "thank you's" are more important than students realize.\n"It's a more significant reward than any other recognition they receive in their field," he said.\nThough English professor Allen Salerno said students thank him, it's usually on a smaller scale, such as in the classroom. \n"It was a great honor to be asked to come to this," he said.\nLast semester, Katie Vaughn's educational psychology professor impacted her and she wanted to recognize her, so she invited her to the reception.\n"It's a good way for professors to actually know how students feel about them," the sophomore said. "They usually think students don't want to come to class."\nAside from discussing educational psychology and counseling, Vaughn said she and her former teacher were able to catch up on each other's lives.\n"It's nice to see our very good students in a cultural setting," Gardner said. "I saw colleagues I hadn't seen in awhile and others I didn't know. It was good for campus morale."\nDuring the reception, PHA awarded two $650 scholarships, one each to Liz Sommerville of Alpha Delta Pi and Celeste Dro of Zeta Tau Alpha. The scholarships were based on academic merit, a personal essay and involvement in the greek community.