Annual awards presented to outstanding faculty and staff
Annual awards for outstanding teaching and advising were presented at the faculty and staff appreciation ceremony on April 10 in Pearson Hall’s Moore Lounge.
Credit: Jadon Good PhotographyRachel Bergstrom, associate professor of biology, received both the James R. Underkofler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the Phee Boon Kang ’73 Faculty Prize for Excellence in Advising and Mentoring. Bergstrom, who joined the faculty in 2014, teaches courses that include cell biology, neuroscience, cancer biology, and emerging infectious diseases.
Known for her boundless enthusiasm and her transformative impact, Bergstrom bridges rigorous academic training with real-world preparation so that students not only learn but thrive. The James R. Underkofler award recognizes exemplary commitment to teaching. It is sponsored by Alliant Energy and named for the organization’s longtime CEO.
Credit: Nicholas Mischler ’14The Phee Boon Kang ’73 Staff Prize for Excellence in Advising and Mentoring was awarded to Maria Lupe Anaya.
A beloved member of the Beloit College community since 2013, Anaya, known to students simply as Lupe, is known for her patience, kindness, and good nature. This award recognizes her deep and trusting relationships built with students by offering a familiar face, a kind word, and a genuine sense of home for those far from their own.
The Phee Boon Kang ’73 Prizes, the college’s highest awards to a faculty and a staff member for advising and mentoring, are based on student nominations and the recommendations of a faculty and staff committee. The prizes are supported by Phee Boon Kang ’73, a member of the Board of Trustees.
