NUTN 2006 Awards Recipients Named

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual or group of individuals for major contributions to higher education in the use of electronic technologies in videoconferencing and distance education. Diana Oblinger, vice president of EDUCAUSE, is acknowledged for her current role and for her past commitments that advanced the thinking in distance learning.

“Diana’s career has been a demonstration of these services and we’re recognizing her vast contributions to our field,” said Janis L. Hall, chair of the NUTN Advisory Board and director of the Washington Higher Education Telecommunications System (WHETS) at Washington State University. A vote by the NUTN Advisory Board determines the recipient each year.

Another high honor, The J.O. Grantham Leadership Award, goes to an individual who demonstrates strong leadership in both NUTN and in the general field of education technology. Hall said this year’s recipient, Richard Hezel, is always willing to help out and he has contributed in a variety of ways. Hezel is president of the education consulting firm Hezel Associates and an active member of NUTN.

The network also recognized three institutions for excellence of programs and work. The Best Research Paper Award went to Regent University for the paper titled, “An Exploration of Attitudinal and Situational Factors Related to Intrinsic Motivation and Autonomy in Teacher Education Students.” Capella University received the Distance Education Innovation Award for, “Next Generation Learning: Problem-based Learning in an Online Environment,” and the Shirley Davis Award of Excellence in Teleconferencing was presented to the R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications’ STARLink network for, “Connecting CATs and CoLTs: Techniquest to Improve Student Learning.”

Formal presentation of these awards was made during NUTN 2006: Managing and Maintaining Quality in Distance Learning, hosted by Capella University. The event was made possible with cooperation from the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) and the Sloan Consortium.

The specific awards are:
NUTN Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Diana G. Oblinger, vice president, EDUCAUSE

J.O. Grantham Leadership Award
Dr. Richard T. Hezel, president, Hezel Associates

Nofflet Williams Service Award
Monica Pilkey, president, Pilkey Communications, Inc. and manager of partner relations at MSU Global

The Nofflet Williams Service Award recognizes an individual who exhibits, over a sustained period and in a consistent manner, the commitment to providing service to those in the field. This award is doubly significant because the central core of NUTN is to provide service in the exchange of experience, practice and theory to all in the organization in a free manner.

NUTN 2006 Best Research Paper Award
Regent University, “An Exploration of Attitudinal and Situational Factors Related to Intrinsic Motivation and Autonomy in Teacher Education Students.”

The NUTN 2006 Best Research Paper Award recognizes contribution of an individual or group of individuals to the collective understanding of the principles, practices, and approaches that lead to improvement of the field of technology in education.

NUTN 2006 Distance Education Innovation Award
Capella University, “Next Generation Learning: Problem Based Learning in an Online Environment.” (click here for information about Capella University)

The Distance Education Innovation Award recognizes an individual or groups of individuals representing a member or non-member institution that has developed an innovative program or practice that contributes to the field of distance education. The award for innovation may be in relation to a new program, an ongoing program, student or support services, pedagogy, faculty development and support or technology.

Shirley Davis Award of Excellence in Teleconferencing
STARLink at R. Jan LeCroy Center for Education Telecommunications, “Connecting CATs and CoLTs: Techniques to Improve Student Learning.”

The Shirley Davis Award of Excellence in Teleconferencing recognizes the work of individuals and institutions in providing teleconferences of a superior nature. Programs submitted are judged by content issues, technical issues and administrative issues.

ABOUT NUTN
The National University Telecommunications Network (NUTN) is committed to providing dynamic leadership and support of applications of new and emerging technologies in distance education. As a premier distance learning professional organization, involved in both professional development and product development, NUTN provides vision and experience to higher education institutions and professionals serving numerous constituencies and organizations. For further information about NUTN, visit www.nutn.org.