Megan Friesen
SSS adviser, 308.865.8988
Four outstanding tutors and consultants received recognition at the Academic Success Awards and Recognition event recently at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
“Our students work so hard throughout the semester, and this is an opportunity for us to recognize students for their outstanding academic achievements, celebrate their success and commitment to quality and service, and bring light to their overall significant contributions to the UNK community,” said Megan Friesen, academic counselor in the UNK Academic Success office.
Awards presented include the Distinguished Academic Peer Tutor Award, Distinguished Writing Consultant Award, Academic Peer Tutoring Program’s Outstanding Tutee Award and Outstanding Consultee Award. The Distinguished Tutor Award was established in the fall of 2001 to formally recognize outstanding commitment and dedication based on nominations made by students, faculty and staff, overall performance, dependability, leadership and campus collaboration.
Kali Anderson of Burlington, Colo., a math education major, received the Distinguished Academic Peer Tutor Award. Anderson said that she became a tutor, because she enjoys helping people and plans to become a math teacher after graduation.
“Kali (Anderson) is a great asset to the Learning Commons,” Friesen said. “Her kind spirit, patient personality and genuine devotion to tutoring are an inspiration.”
Kathleen Hall of Nebraska City, a graduate student studying English Literature, received the Distinguished Writing Consultant Award.
Hall, who has worked as a writing consultant for the past four years, said that the experience has enabled her to aid her peers in writing, while also giving her the opportunity to explore her passion for teaching.
“There have been many occasions in which (Hall) encountered the same consultee and noticed a great improvement in their work,” Friesen said. “As a consultant, you cannot hope for anything better than that. Katie’s dedication to the Writing Center, love for teaching and professionalism will be truly missed as she is set to graduate in July.”
“The Learning Commons tutors and consultants nominate students showing exceptional dedication to their academic success through utilization of the Learning Commons services coupled with an extraordinary effort to apply the knowledge gained during their tutoring sessions or consultations, respectively,” Friesen said.
Kimberly Maly of Orleans, a biology major, received the Outstanding Tutee Award. Maly was recently inducted into Phi Eta Sigma sophomore honor society.
“The tutors’ ability to help explain a concept to me, or to find a person who can, was key to my understanding and success in my classes this year,” Maly said.
Jessie Torres, criminal justice major from Scottsbluff, received the Outstanding Consultee Award. Torres is involved in the UNK Office of Multicultural Affairs activities.
“Tutoring has helped me better understand how to write,” Torres said. “I can now catch my own errors, and I have seen an improvement in my grades.”
