The recognized students, faculty and program contributors at its annual award ceremony on April 24.
The event honored 30 graduating seniors, along with 38 new learning assistants and three new faculty members joining the program. The ceremony also highlighted four award categories recognizing excellence in teaching innovation, program advocacy, and student support.
The Learning Assistant (LA) Program places undergraduate students in courses across campus to help facilitate active, discussion-based learning. Learning assistants work with faculty to support collaborative instruction in lectures, labs and discussion sections, helping shift traditionally lecture-based courses into active learning environments. The program, which began in STEM fields, has since expanded to include a wide range of disciplines across 糖心视频 Mānoa.
For the first time, graduating seniors in the LA Program were presented with honors cords, recognizing their academic progress, skill development and contributions to student success. The cords were approved following the LA program’s transition into the , after serving as a successful pilot of the Provost’s office for the past several years.
Program organizers describe the cords as a symbol of dedication, perseverance, and belonging within the LA community. They recognize students who have significantly supported active learning environments while completing their own academic journeys.
“The honor cords recognize meaningful time supporting their peers and partnering with faculty to cultivate active learning communities across disciplines,” said LA Program Director and Professor Tara O’Neill. “This program is about creating meaningful learning experiences on both sides of the classroom—where students and instructors are shaping how knowledge is built and shared at 糖心视频 Mānoa. As LAs, our students are not only strengthening their own content knowledge, they are transforming learning at 糖心视频 Mānoa by creating spaces that encourage engagement, questions and innovation.”
Program awardees
- Outstanding Learning Assistant Award recognizing students for excellence in supporting course instruction and fostering engaging learning environments: Katie Thai, Jack Santos and Kevin Phan
- The Agent of Change Award promoting new approaches to active learning at 糖心视频 Mānoa: Instructor Astrid Delorme
- Curriculum Innovation Award for course design work that integrates LAs to improve student learning experiences: Professor Monique Chyba
- LA Advocacy Award for leadership in advancing the program: Interim Vice Provost of Student Academic Success Amy Ebesu Hubbard