They include Jay Bagga, outstanding research award; Nancy B. Carlson, outstanding creative endeavor; James R. Needham, outstanding faculty academic adviser; Michael M. O'Hara, outstanding junior faculty; James A. Segedy, outstanding faculty service; Carl E. Warnes, outstanding administrative service; and Wayne M. Zage, outstanding faculty award.

The outstanding educators, selected by their peers, receive a cash award from the Ball State University Foundation as well as a plaque provided by the Alumni Association.

• Bagga's research in graph theory has resulted in numerous publications and more than $600,000 in external grants. Two years age he received a Fulbright senior scholar appointment at the University of Zimbabwe to strengthen its computer science curriculum and establish a master's of science degree.
• Carlson was honored for creative achievement in video production. In 2001, as a Virginia B. Ball fellow, she worked with students to produce the "Indiana Outdoors" series. Her documentary, "Ed Ball's Century" aired on many stations nationally. A year ago she re-edited her 1996 video "Gene Stratton-Porter: Voice of the Limberlost."
• Needham, the primary advisor for telecommunications students since 1994, works with more than 1,100 majors and minors. He is involved in high school recruiting, departmental extra-curricular activities and orientation sessions. He also serves as the department's assistant chairperson.
• O'Hara received the Excellence in Teaching recognition in 1999 and the Lawhead Teaching Award in 2001. He advises student-directed theater productions, coaches student actors for the American College Theatre Festivals, advises undergraduate honor theses and serves as a team member in the Freshman Connections program.
• Segedy has been active in the First Year Program in the College of Architecture and Planning. He is also director of the college's award-winning Community-Based Projects Program. He has served as board member and president of the Indiana chapter of the American Planning Association.
• Warnes has chaired the biology department since 1986. On a given day he may be working to acquire equipment to update a biotechnology laboratory while solving problems with the management of 250 acres of property used for ecological study. He has been director of the East Central Indiana Science Fair for 20 years.
• Zage, regarded as one of the leading experts in design metrics and models, has received 62 grants totaling more than $3 million. He integrates his knowledge into the software engineering capstone course for computer science majors. He also leads Ball State's Design Metrics Research Team.

Also honored at the fall meeting were recipients of the university's Excellence in Teaching award. Recipients are Mathew Fisher, assistant professor of English; Melinda Messineo, assistant professor of sociology; and Christopher Thompson, assistant professor of history.

The blue-ribbon teachers are nominated by undergraduate students and selected based on classroom observation and ideas for an original course. The professors receive a merit award and funds to develop their "dream course" to be taught during an upcoming semester.

Also honored was Thomas Robertson, professor of physics and astronomy, recipient of the Lawhead Teaching in the Core Curriculum Award. The award is based on evaluation of teaching, service to the community and support letters from colleagues and students.

The University Core Curriculum consists of courses required for all students regardless of the majors they choose.
 

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on this story, contact Anthony Barker at (765) 285-5731 or tonybarker@bsu.edu.)