The College of Dental Medicine’s executive Student Government Association will host the SGA Students’ Choice Awards to honor professors on March 18 at 3 p.m. at the College of Dental Medicine building.
Executive SGA Vice President Alex Verga, third-year dental student, said the idea to honor professors started last year. The SGA discussed how the professors help students achieve their goals and came up with the idea of a student choice awards.
“It really addresses two of NSU’s core values: student centeredness and academic excellence,” Verga said. “These professors are advocates for student success and they really go above and beyond in helping us achieve our goals. They’re really outstanding faculty members so we want to give back to them. We feel like this not only motivates them to keep on doing a good job but it’s a center of pride to know that we actually care and give back and we appreciate their help.”
Verga said the students vote on different categories including assistant of the year, hygienist of the year, most passionate professor of the year, team player of the year, the most valuable professor for first-year students, the most valuable professor for second-year students, the most valuable professor for third-year students, and student advocate of the year.
This year’s awards will feature an unveiling of a wall on the third floor where the awards will be displayed. Verga said this wall will be a space where the awards and award recipients’ names can always be on display.
I think it’s great for faculty members to walk by and see their names,” Verga said. “We really wanted a space for it to be proudly displayed for everyone.”
Verga said everyone at the college can nominate the candidates voted on. Certain categories apply to dental students in different years and are voted on by those students. For example, first-year students vote on the most valuable professor for their year.
Amir Akhavan, College of Dental Medicine alumnus who is currently doing his residency, was the president of the dental school’s executive SGA when the idea for the awards came to life. He said it was always the executive SGA’s intention that the tradition continue.
“I think it’s important for them to know that the students appreciate them,” Akhavan said. “It encourages them to keep on doing the great work that they do. It’s for them to understand that we students appreciate their efforts and their help.”
Akhavan said he hopes that when people look at the plaques and realize that what they do matters.
“I hope people do appreciate those individuals who put the effort into helping students,” Akhavan said.
