Teaching Awards and Research Medal recipients celebrated

The event was an opportunity to acknowledge the excellence of outstanding teachers and researchers at Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa and to gather as a community to honour them.

Kaiarataki Māori, Mr Reupena Tawhai, was MC for the evening. Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas and Provost Professor Giselle Byrnes, along with the award winners, family, friends and colleagues were in attendance.

Professor Thomas presented the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence to Associate Professor Maggie Hartnett and Senior Lecturer Dr Angela Feekery.

Professor Byrnes, presented the following 2021 awards:

• Early Career Teaching Award - Dr Collin Bjork, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Early Career Research Medal - Dr Gabor Kereszturi, College of Sciences
• Exceptional Research Citizenship Medal Whaowhia Ngā Kete o Te Wānanga Medal - Associate Professor Trisia Farrelly, College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

For recipients unable to attend the event, a citation was read to acknowledge their achievement. These included:

• Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence - Associate Professor Carolyn Gates, College of Sciences
• Research Excellence Medal - Professor Shane Telfer, College of Sciences
• Supervisor Medal - Professor Marlena Kruger, College of Health.

The Team Research Medal was presented to Te Kāhui Toi, Toi Rauwhārangi, College of Creative Arts, at an event held in August.

Speaking at the event, Professor Byrnes noted that the ceremony would normally be held in March, but due to the uncertainties around COVID and the need to keep communities safe, the decision was made to delay until people felt more comfortable to gather in person.

Professor Byrnes also commented on the changing definition of research excellence and the opportunities this provides for Massey. She also referenced the university’s Teaching and Learning strategy Paerangi.

"We are committed to teaching excellence and this is reflected in the term Paerangi itself, where the term refers to a person being at the height of their career, or in their prime, with a further meaning being to ‘raise up high’, or to reference a horizon. The term ‘paerangi’ has real and authentic meaning for us as a community of students and scholars as we work to support one another to realise our potential, to support our students to be who they aspire to be, and to reach their horizons.

"We have also committed to sharing a spirit of continuous learning and to enable our students to choose learning pathways that allow them to be excited and to excel. I think each of our award recipients tonight amply demonstrates these qualities."