Dr Richard Kujawa, Saint Michael’s College professor of geography, earned the top Saint Michael’s teaching award, the Joanne Rathgeb Teaching Award, for 2010, as selected by his faculty colleagues and presented at the Academic Convocation September 24 in the McCarthy Arts Center on the college campus.In presenting the award, last year’s recipient, Dr. Lorrie Smith, said, “The teaching award at Saint Michaels College is presented annually to a faculty member in memory of Joanne Rathgeb, professor of fine arts. Joanne had a passion for teaching, unwavering fidelity to high standards and creativity, a quirky sense of humor, and a willingness to go any distance to ensure that all students learn, which are all principles embraced by this year’s recipient of the teaching award, Dr. Richard Kujawa.”Dr. Kujawa was cited for being “one of our most dynamic and engaging lecturers.” And his lectures were said to be “sprinkled with humor, often self-deprecating, while never straying too far from the serious pursuit of academic discovery.” Further he was described as having a stunning ability to present geography in creative.Professor Kujawa was praised for expecting students to demonstrate personal responsibility, self-motivation, independent thinking, hard work and curiosity. The citation called him, “one of the toughest graders on campus who also happens to be one of our most student-centered faculty members . . . students still cherish his classes and respect this charming and charismatic teacher.”Professor Kujawa is coordinator of the Vermont Geographic Alliance, through which he has done notable work improving the quality and scope of geography education in our public schools.Professor Kujawa is a resident of South Burlington.Learn What Matters at Saint Michael’s College, The Edmundite Catholic liberal arts college, www.smcvt.edu(link is external) . Saint Michael’s provides education with a social conscience, producing graduates with the intellectual tools to lead successful, purposeful lives that will contribute to peace and justice in our world. Founded in 1904 by the Society of St. Edmund and headed by President John J. Neuhauser, Saint Michael’s College is located three miles from Burlington, Vermont, one of America’s top college towns. It is identified by the Princeton Review as one of the nations Best 371 Colleges, and is included in the 2011 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Saint Michael’s is one of only 280 colleges and universities nationwide, one of only 20 Catholic colleges, with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Saint Michael’s has 1,900 undergraduate students, some 500 graduate students and 100 international students. Saint Michael’s students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Pickering, Guggenheim, Fulbright, and other grants. The college is one of the nation’s top-100, Best Liberal Arts Colleges as listed in the 2011 U.S. News & World Report rankings.Source: Saint Michael’s. 9.28.2010-30-