March / April, 2003

Every year, each department in the College of Engineering selects one faculty member to receive the Withrow Award for Teaching Excellence. This year the honor went to Agricultural Engineering professor, John Gerrish.

Dr. Gerrish can often be found in Farrall Hall working with students late into the night. He believes in the school of hard knocks, and holds students to high standards. As a result, students come away confident in themselves and prepared to succeed. Students say: "He is more of a mentor than a professor." "He has helped me to trust myself and my work...even though that Dutch system of learning (as Gerrish describes it) seems like torture at the time!" Often the broadest smiles seen on Dr. Gerrish's face are not due to his personal success, but rather the success of those whom he has taught. He has been a true "work horse" for undergraduate engineering education, refining the Biosystems Engineering program and structuring the senior capstone design course into an outstanding career-building experience for students.

Selection of the recipient is based primarily on nominations from students; a department selection committee, composed of a majority of students, along with alumni, faculty, or advisers, reviews the nomination and makes a recommendation to the department chairperson. The following criteria are considered:

• Command of course content
• Creation of an effective learning environment
• Delivery of course materials
• Availability to students
• Ability to elicit enthusiastic learning
• Guidance of student organizations and projects
• Effective advising and mentoring

Congratulations Dr. Gerrish for your distinguished service to the department, student body and university!

Agricultural Engineering
Michigan State University
A.W. Farrall Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1323
(517) 355-4720

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April 9, 2003