UIndy professor wins national teaching award
By Mandy Weber | Staff Writer
Dr. Judy Apple-VanAlstine is the recipient of the Commission for Accelerated Programs Excellence in Teaching Award for 2008.
Apple-VanAlstine teaches three Adult Learning courses at the University of Indianapolis: investigating multiple intelligences, change management and excellence in leadership.
The Dean of School for Adult Learning, Dr. Patricia Jefferson, presented Apple-VanAlstine with the National Education Award. According to Jefferson, Apple-VanAlstine was nominated because of her great deal of knowledge of how to teach adults, academic background, and her overall ability to impact students and the university as a whole.
“I have been teaching here for over forty years, and I feel as if I am a better teacher as a result of knowing her,” Jefferson said.
Reviews given to the Awards Committee Commission for Accelerated Programs have testimonials from former students.
Former student Colleen Mitchell wrote of the changes VanAlstine made in her as a person.
“Judy is someone who lifts me up and makes me want to be more than I currently am,” Apple-VanAlstine said. “I feel that when the classes were over, I was a different person. Not only was I different, but I was better.”
The student reviews said Apple-VanAlstine cares for her students not only as students, but as individuals. In only a short ten-week course, Apple-VanAlstine manages to impact Mitchell’s life forever.
“I would like to thank Judy for the life lessons she taught me during the brief time I was in class with her,” Mitchell said. “I consider myself lucky to be associated with her, if only for ten weeks.”
April Dahncke, another student of Apple-VanAlstine explained the professor’s skill in personalizing her lessons.
“Not only was the class engaging, but Dr. Apple-VanAlstine goes out of her way to insure each student is given personal attention and the chance to learn as much as possible from her class,” Dahncke said. “She helped me build confidence and to this day when I face a difficult project her confidence in me helps me to know that I can get through it.”
Apple-VanAlstine has been teaching at UIndy since 2005 and before that, served 28 years in public education as a teacher and also as a central office administrator. Her strong desire to teach students and positively impact their lives is what has allowed her to stand out among other teachers and receive this award, according to Jefferson.
“Not only is she obviously good at what she does, but she has raised the standard of teaching here at UIndy,” Jefferson explained.
Jefferson said that she remembers the day she hired Apple-VanAlstine like it was yesterday.
“Dr. John Batey, Dr. Christenberry, Kathy Simpher, and I had an interview with Dr. Apple-VanAlstine. She blew us away. It was her knowledge, competence, the way she expressed herself verbally, she answered all the tough questions, had excellent references, a great sense of humor and a plan for faculty development,” Jefferson said. “After the interview I walked her out of the room and told her I would contact her shortly. When I turned around into the office everyone was holding up a notebook paper that read, ‘Hire her!’ I quickly ran outside, and as Judy was getting into her car, I yelled to her that she had the job!”
Samantha Weinbrecht, another former student of Apple VanAlstine, said that the students of UIndy are very proud of Apple-VanAlstine and her accomplishments.
“I am very happy that I had the opportunity to be a student of Judy Apple-VanAlstine,” Weinbrecht said. “I was able to take the knowledge acquired in her classes and transfer that to my daily life. I highly recommend her for the teaching award.”
Every class that Apple-VanAlstine has taught has been evaluated. She said she tries to encourage students as learners and engage thinking.
Apple-VanAlstine said that she has created strong relationships with her students and memories in which she explains she will never forget.
“I love when I see a student really understand the material,” Apple-VanAlstine said. “There is a joy that comes from it. They make it their own, and now it has meaning for them.”
Apple-VanAlstine will travel to Philadelphia on Nov. 10, where she will be honored during CAP’s annual conference.
“Serving as a life coach is just plain fun. I absolutely love what I do. It is the best of all worlds.”
