From left: Brian Robson, Executive Director, Ontario Tech Student Union (OTSU); Dan Walters, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities Practicum and Internship Co-ordinator, Ontario Tech University; Elo Avenbuan, VP Student Life, OTSU; Angelique Dack, VP Downtown, OTSU; Sam Brown, President, OTSU; Dr. Mary Bluechardt, Interim Deputy Provost, Ontario Tech University; Dr. Syed Qadri, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University; Arajenthira Narenthira, Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education Board Director, OTSU.
Ontario Tech University instructors play a key role in students' academic success. Beyond imparting knowledge and skills in a classroom setting, instructors build connections with students, help them grow their confidence, and encourage student engagement in the community.
In recognition of their hard work and dedication to student success, the Ontario Tech Student Union (OTSU) recently presented two exceptional teaching faculty members with Teaching Excellence awards at the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) Partners in Higher Education dinner. The dinner was attended by OUSA stakeholders, partners, students, politicians, media and members of the post-secondary industry.
Award recipients:
Dr. Syed Qadri, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr. Qadri specializes in research that focuses on understanding red blood cell functions in the context of hematology and blood bank storage in transfusion medicine. He teaches within the Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Human Health Sciences programs at Ontario Tech. The OTSU recognized Dr. Qadri for his exemplary qualities of dedication and commitment to student success. He received outstanding praise through student submissions, which noted his remarkable ability to engage students and create an inclusive learning environment and his ability to implement innovative teaching methods, such as interactive lectures and group discussions.
Dan Walters, Instructor and Practicum and Internship Co-ordinator, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH)
Walters teaches the Practicum course for all FSSH programs. Student submissions highlighted Walters' ability to customize the student experience to make them feel valued as individuals, and called him a cornerstone of student's experiences at Ontario Tech.
Quotes
"It was an honour and a privilege to be invited by our very own OTSU to attend the OUSA's Partners in Higher Education dinner. To attend and celebrate two of our Ontario Tech University award winners, Dan and Syed, was truly an amazing experience. It was heartwarming to be among our student leaders who illuminate a bright future for all."
- Dr. Mary Bluechardt, Interim Deputy Provost, Ontario Tech University
"I am truly grateful and honored for this prestigious recognition by OUSA, and for being the first recipient of this Teaching Excellence award from Ontario Tech University along with Mr. Dan Walters. I am very appreciative of Ontario Tech University's visionary leadership in fostering excellence in both teaching and research on campus. It is the energy and enthusiasm of our students that motivates us to provide high-quality course delivery in our classrooms, and therefore I dedicate this award to my students."
- Dr. Syed Qadri, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University
"Ontario Tech students continually teach me lessons in strength, resilience and compassion. They navigate oppression, food insecurity, bullying, self-doubt and a host of unknowable challenges, and yet I'm the one getting an award? To receive this first-ever award for Teaching Excellence along with the brilliant Dr. Syed Qadri is beyond humbling. I forget many things, but I will never forget how it feels to be recognized by the people I admire most in life: our students. I am forever indebted to the Ontario Tech Student Union for their leadership, vision, and excellence-in-action."- Dan Walters, Practicum and Internship Co-ordinator, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Ontario Tech University
