Cooper Award

The Cooper Award is named after former CSCA President Pamela J. Cooper and is presented to one M.A. level graduate teaching assistant and one Ph.D. level graduate teaching assistant. At the annual convention, the recipients receive a $150 cash award and a certificate.

To be considered for the Cooper Award, nominees must submit materials electronically (not to exceed 12 pages, excluding cover page, index page, and/or divider pages) which must be the original work of the graduate teaching assistant. The electronic packet must include (1) no more than two letters of nomination/support; (2) a one to two-page statement of the nominee's teaching philosophy; (3) a description of the nominee's teaching experiences including courses taught and course responsibilities; (4) evidence of the nominee's teaching effectiveness, including summaries of teaching evaluations and/or peer/ supervisor evaluations; and (5) teaching materials including syllabi, assignment sheets, handouts, and web pages.

Only two candidates can be nominated by one department. Students who were graduate teaching assistants during the past academic year as well as current M.A. and Ph.D. students are eligible. Graduate teaching assistants at colleges and universities in the CSCA region are eligible. In addition, graduate teaching assistants advised by faculty outside of the CSCA region are also eligible, but they, their nominating faculty, or department should be CSCA members. Cooper Award recipients are expected to become members of CSCA and attend the conference to receive the award. The recipients of the Cooper Award are recognized at the Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon and Business Meeting.

The materials must be received by February 1, 2012. When the materials are received, you will receive a confirmation email indicating that your submission is under review.

Please submit the materials via email to:

Dr. Blair Thompson, Assistant Professor
Blair.thompson@wku.edu
Cooper Award Committee Chair
Western Kentucky University
Department of Communication
159 Fine Arts Center
2906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101

Past recipients are:

2011

Michael Burns, North Dakota State University, (Ph.D)
Chris McAllister, Illinois State University, (M.A)

2010

Angela Hosek, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, (Ph.D)
Joseph Ewalt, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, (M.A)

2009

Joseph Mazer, Ohio University, (Ph.D)
Bryan Asbury, Illinois State University, (M.A)

2008

Cassandra LeClair-Underberg, University of Nebraska, Lincoln (Ph.D)
Katie Striley, Missouri State University, (M.A.)

2007

Samuel McCormick, University of Iowa (Ph.D.)
Elissa Arterburn, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (M.A.)

2006

Meredith Marko, University of Nebraska (Ph.D.)
Jenn Supple Nadeau, University of Northern Iowa (M.A.)

2005

Stephanie Rollie, University of Iowa (Ph.D)

2004

Kristen Lucas, Purdue University (Ph.D.)
Bryan McCann, Illinois State University (M.A.)

2003

Paul Schrodt, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Ph.D.)
Luke LeFebvre, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (M.A.)

2002

Leah Bryant, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Ph.D.)
Sara Toricelli, Illinois State University (M.A.)

2001

David T. McMahan, University of Iowa (Ph.D.)
Stephen Rains, Illinois State University (M.A.)