Recognized for their professionalism and commitment to student learning and success, this year’s Lone Star College-CyFair Adjunct Faculty Excellence Awards Winners are Amy Newhouse, Edward Vargas, Freda Washington and Andra Yanchenko.
Newhouse and Washington have both taught history at LSC-CyFair since 2016.
Newhouse said she enjoys watching her students find their voice and take their opinions on world issues seriously. She hopes that by understanding the complexity of the nation’s past, students will lead their generation in making wise decisions for its future.
“I believe that the best classes awaken students’ curiosity to discover the historical in their everyday lives,” she said. “I aim to weave the components of my courses in a way that helps students to become genuinely inquisitive about their world and the past that created it.”
Washington said she serves as a conduit for disseminating and receiving information and sees teaching as an opportunity to share historical knowledge in a learning environment.
She said history chose her and that journey began in an art class featuring art of Egypt, Africa, when her professor awakened a desire to know more about her own personal history.
“From that moment, I was in love and pursued history diligently,” she said. “Teaching allows me to share that love and hopefully ignite a spark in students to appreciate the discipline's importance.”
In 2014, Vargas began teaching developmental English at LSC-CyFair where he felt he could make an impact in the lives of students and bolster their success in academia and professional careers.
Vargas said he provides a curriculum that brings in contemporary issues and encourages creative interaction in classroom discourse and debate.
“It is my intention to act as a facilitator within the classroom and to provide a unique instructional experience so that students feel it is a safe environment to practice their own voice relative to any discussion or debate related to the subject matter,” he said.
Yanchenko, an instructor in the LSC Personal Training Program, began at LSC-CyFair in 2008 teaching business, fitness, math and reading courses in a program for students with intellectual disabilities.
She believes teaching and learning involves two-way communication as well as “acknowledging, understanding, respecting and sharing with those with whom you interact.”
“As a teacher, I must be an observer of my students and show creativity and flexibility in adapting my delivery to each unique learning situation,” she said. “Communication, encouragement, empowerment and understanding reflect the nature, style and quality of my teaching?.”
These four adjunct faculty members will be among those employees honored for outstanding service in college-wide and system-wide employee events later this spring.
For information on LSC-CyFair, adjunct faculty opportunities, late start class registration as well as college degree and workforce programs, go to LoneStar.edu/cyfair.
