While freshmen are still adjusting to campus life during Summer B, some UF members are already searching for ways to welcome back alumni and recognize seasoned Gators.
Voting to nominate professors for several awards during Education Celebration, a Homecoming event honoring select faculty members on Oct. 6, will begin this month, according to Jessica Clements, the Homecoming 2010 general chair.
“We want to show the professors that we appreciate the hard work that they put forth in improving our academics,” Clements said.
Once everything has been approved by the Office of the Provost, the online voting will be set up on the Homecoming website at ufhomecoming.org, she said.
Four professors will receive the Distinguished Faculty Award, two will receive the Distinguished Mentor Award and one department will receive the new Departmental Award, said Alvancin Louis, director of Education Celebration.
A selection committee, which is made up of four faculty members chosen by UF Provost Joseph Glover, will go through the applications and choose the winners, Louis said.
The number of years the professors have been teaching, the difficulty of their courses and the number of grant writings they have received for research will go into considering a winner, Louis said.
The event used to be a reception, but Louis said the Education Celebration committee hopes to make the event bigger this year, beginning with a business-casual banquet and reception followed by a sit-down dinner.
“It is our privilege to host this event,” Louis said.
In addition to online voting, applications for organizations that want to build a float for the Homecoming Parade and for Gator Raiders, which is a group for students who help promote Gator Growl and Homecoming, are now available on the website.
“It’s a great way for freshmen to get involved,” said Grace Faulkenberry, associate general chair.
