WEBVTT

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[music]

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Julia was nominated by her peers and also a very large group of students who spoke unabashedly

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about the role that Dr. Smith has played in their lives and in their learning.

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As coordinator of the Rehabilitation Counseling Education program,

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Dr. Smith works closely with students in a 2-year program to become certified rehabilitation counselors.

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These students must learn skills and techniques to connect with widely diverse individuals, seeking services to improve their lives.

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Learning to do this is a challenge.

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In the words of one of her students, 'I told Dr. Smith that I felt as though someone had handed me a lab coat that was several sizes too big.

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She smiled and told me, 'Wear it anyway.

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I did and in wearing it, I grew.

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Please welcome the 2013 recipient of the Mario and Alma Pastega Award for Excellence in Teaching, Dr. Julia Smith.

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It's such a delight to be here. Thank you very much. I really want to start with appreciation of my faculty and staff,

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and people in my division who put together an unbelievable nomination packet.

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That for me was enough. I am really, really proud to be a faculty member here at Western Oregon University.

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I'm currently doing a search for a new faculty member,

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and when I talked to these applicants who want to come to Western Oregon University,

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what their job requirements are, what they are expected to do in these different university settings,

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I can see where they want to come to someplace like Western

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because we really do honor the teacher/student relationship.

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WEISS: Here at Western Oregon University, Mario and Alma Pastega Award for Excellence in Teaching and in Scholarship

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has come to represent the highest level of recognition available to faculty.

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Tonight, we recognize Tom's academic achievements,

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which are a culmination of his intellectual pursuits and his years of experience as a working musician.

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I'm pleased and proud to introduce Dr. Tom Bergeron, another one of our wonderful colleagues who make the world a much more interesting place,

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and winner of the 2013 Pastega Award for Academic Excellence at Western Oregon University.

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I can't imagine a career that I would enjoy more.

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My job is to hang out with friends and talk about and play music.

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Then, to stay current in my field, I have to hang out with other friends and talk about and play music.

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So, it's a joy, and so here I am and I'm being recognized for getting up in the morning and getting to bed at night and in-between, doing what I want.

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[playing saxophone]

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In closing, I would like to quote Mario.

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But if along our path of life we gave a helping hand to fellow human beings, it will have made a difference.

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That is precisely what our values are and what we do here at Western proudly.

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[music]