Rankin Presented With President’s Distinguished 教师 Award at FSU

Jun 6, 2019 3:35 PM

Dr. Jennifer Rankin, an associate professor in Frostburg State University’s College of Education, has been selected as the 2019 recipient of the President’s Distinguished 教师 Award, presented during FSU’s 154th Commencement Ceremony.

This award recognizes a faculty member who has provided exceptional service to the University and has helped to advance its mission, goals and priorities. Rankin is recognized specifically for her extensive outreach efforts that connect area students to FSU and engage them in active learning.

“Today we recognize the innumerable ways that Dr. Rankin builds bridges between Frostburg State University and the people of this region,” said FSU President Ronald Nowaczyk, in presenting the award. “Her outreach connects FSU students, expertise and resources to the local educational community, students and families.”

Among her numerous initiatives, Rankin organized the first LEGO League Qualifier event at Frostburg State, enabling 20 teams of school-age children, as well as their families, to discover the University while demonstrating their skills with robots.

Similarly, Rankin is partnering to bring students from seven elementary schools to Frostburg State for STEM field trips this summer and is collaborating to obtain and design a STEM bus that will visit area schools and parks, connecting underserved children with technology and hands-on activities.

Rankin was also a key player in the successful NASA Day in April 2018, in which area middle school students participated in a live downlink with Ricky Arnold, a NASA astronaut and FSU graduate, from the International Space Station. Then this May, when Arnold came to campus in person, Rankin served on the committee that arranged for more than 1,600 middle school students to hear him speak face to face.

“Not only does Dr. Rankin create once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like meeting an astronaut, but she delivers programming that can change lives forever,” Nowaczyk said.