History and Public History Graduate Students Win TA Award

Graduate students Sarah Billheimer and Samantha Vandermeade won the 2015 NC State UGSA Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.

Sarah (pictured left), is a second-year graduate student in the History M.A. program. Sam is a second-year graduate student in the Public History M.A. program. Faculty in the History Department nominated both students for their excellence in teaching.

The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award is sponsored by the University Graduate Student Association Teaching Effectiveness Committee. This year, 22 departments across the University nominated nearly 70 graduate student for TA awards in three categories: classroom instruction, lab instruction, and mentorship. Both Sarah and Samantha won awards in the classroom instruction category.

The award ceremony was held on March 24, 2015, at the McKimmon Center. Dr. Beth Overman, Director of Graduate Academic and Professional Development Programs (pictured right), presented the certificates to the winners. Dr. Maureen Grasso, Dean of the Graduate School, gave the opening remarks and Mr. Bryce H. Lane, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor, gave the special address.

Sarah described the award as “a surprise and an honor.”

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to observe and learn from the fine instructors in our department throughout these past two years – especially as I look toward a teaching career in the near future,” she said.

Sam reports, “I’m honored to receive the UGSA Teaching Assistant Award. I would like to acknowledge the incredible faculty mentors who trained and challenged me as a scholar and an educator. Their guidance and example, as well as the opportunity afforded me by the history department to serve as a TA for two years, have provided an invaluable foundation as I look toward to future teaching at a PhD program.”

Congratulations, Sarah and Sam!