Sometimes, people hear your voice.

Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching Assistance
Kristina Ottosen, master’s candidate, M.A. in Public Texts graduate program

“Any student would be fortunate to have a teaching assistant who is half as considerate, tolerant, and compassionate as Kristina is,” wrote one nominator about Kristina Ottosen, the winner of the 2009 Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching Assistance.

As this year’s winner, Ms. Ottosen, a master’s student in the Public Texts M.A. program at Trent since 2007, is being recognized for the outstanding support she has provided as a teaching assistant to her students in the Medieval and Renaissance Literature course.

“I am surprised and elated to receive this award,” Ms. Ottosen said. “Growth is important to me and I sincerely hope that every student that I have encountered has grown in some way; learned a new way of looking at something; approaching a problem; or simply asking for help when they need it. Each of my students has my deepest respect and it is my hope that this is a demonstration of their respect for me and what I do.”

All of Ms. Ottosen’s nominators praised her extensive knowledge of - and great passion for - English Literature, the variety of innovative teaching methods that she employs, and her willingness to incorporate student feedback into her lesson plans. The selection committee was particularly impressed with the extent to which Kristina “went above and beyond” to engender a learning environment that not only offered abundant encouragement to her students, but also challenged them to better themselves and the work that they submit.

The Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching Assistance acknowledges the contributions of academic assistants and those that facilitate learning in workshop, tutorial, seminar, laboratory, and field settings.

Nominations for the teaching awards were submitted to Trent’s Teaching Awards Sub-committee on behalf of University faculty, staff and graduate student teaching assistants. This is the third year the Distinguished Teaching Awards have been awarded and the 32nd year that Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching has been conferred.