UT Dallas > Computer Science > Event > 2nd Annual Teacher Inspiration Award Ceremony

2nd Annual Teacher Inspiration Award Ceremony

The 2nd Annual Teacher Inspiration Award Ceremony were held by the Computer Science Department at UT Dallas on Friday, 10/24/2014.  Inspiration Awards were given to teachers who inspired Computer Science students at UT Dallas to pursue an education in Computer Science (CS).  Teachers were nominated by freshmen students from the CS Department.  The program was created and organized by Dr. Janell Straach, a Senior Lecturer in the CS Department. Dr. Linda Morales and Ms. Mary Vogel helped to make the event a huge success!  Recipients of the 2014 2nd Annual Teacher Inspiration Awards are listed in the following table:

TeacherSchoolCity
Sean CampbellPhilips Exeter AcademyExeter, NH
Eric FerranteCupertino High SchoolCupertino, CA
Bill Hill (James Hill)Creekview High SchoolCarrollton, TX
Elaine HitchFlower Mound High SchoolFlower Mound, TX
Ann HortonPlano East Senior HighPlano, TX
Tracy IshmanPlano West Senior HighPlano, TX
Scott KaufmanFrisco High SchoolFrisco, TX
Lubna LorenaClements High SchoolSugar Land, TX
Brenda McGurganHighland Park High SchoolDallas, TX
Leon SchramJohn Paul II High SchoolPlano, TX
Henry VoRichardson High SchoolRichardson, TX
Annette WalterFriendswood High SchoolFriendswood, TX
Linda WoessnerCarroll Senior High SchoolSouthlake, TX
Denise SchnitkerDenison High SchoolDenison, TX
Milton GuerraHealth Careers High SchoolSan Antonio, TX
Marilyn TurmelleSchool of Science and EngineeringDallas, TX
Johnny Rolando FloresTownview Magnet CenterDallas, TX
Becky HeslepPlano Senior High SchoolPlano, TX
Nilima ShettVidya ValleyMaharashtra, India
Beverly TrollingerNew Braunfels High SchoolNew Braunfels, TX
Joseph PayneCentennial High SchoolFrisco, TX
Donna OrozcoTrinity High SchoolEuless, TX
David CulpDewitt Perry Middle SchoolCarrollton, TX
Nathan SchutzHebron High SchoolCarrollton, TX
Heidi LeventhalYes Prep GulftonHouston, TX
Jeremiah McMillanJack C. Hays High SchoolBuda, TX
Gail WomackSouth Garland High SchoolGarland, TX
Jessica PattersonWestwood High SchoolAustin, TX
Cynthia GallatinPlano Senior High SchoolPlano, TX

After lunch, some faculty members from the CS department talked about some undergraduate and graduate programs at UT Dallas.

Certificates of appreciation were given to each teacher by Dr. Mark Sprong and Dr. Gopal Gupta.  After lunch, the teachers attended several demonstrations about the research being done by the CS department.  Teachers, who were able to attend the event are pictured, in alphabetical order, in the following table.

At the language lab, the teachers learned about how technology is being used to understand and correct speech defects.  At the motion lab, the teachers watched a demonstration in the 3D motion lab.  One teacher-volunteer used the 3D equipment to walk around in a virtual world, while the rest viewed a display of the virtual world the volunteer was navigating.


The Department of Computer Science at UT Dallas is one of the largest CS departments in the United States with more than 750 undergraduate, 500 master, and 125 PhD students.  They are committed to exceptional teaching and research in a culture that is as daring as it is supportive.