Spotlight on Graduate Student Award Winners

Graduate teaching assistants are a vital part of the SJMC academic experience. From leading discussion sections and presenting in lectures to behind-the-scenes work like grading assignments and helping develop course curriculum, TAs are crucial to maintaining our reputation for educational excellence. This year, four TAs were awarded campus-wide and college-level awards for their work both in and out of the classroom. They shared what these awards mean to them and what they find most rewarding about teaching.

Eric Agyekum (PhD’X)
UW–Madison Early Excellence in Teaching Award

What does this award mean to you both personally and professionally?

UW-Madison boasts of many wonderful and amazing teaching assistants. To be recognized out of this talented pool is a great honor, and I do not take it for granted. I think of the award as a morale booster and a challenge. This award is both rewarding and humbling. It is not just an acknowledgment of my teaching abilities; the award also imposes on me a greater duty to be exceptional and more responsible in discharging my duties as a teacher.

What is your favorite or most rewarding part of teaching?

I love teaching and I enjoy every aspect of it but if I have to pick my favorite part, it will be the classroom discussion, engagement and contact with the students. I always look forward to the warm, lively and engaging discussions in the classroom. It is the space for me share my knowledge and experience, and also learn from the students, hear new perspectives and answer challenging questions. The classroom, to me, feels like a small convivial community for creating connections and empowering students.

I also feel a deep sense of satisfaction to see my students grow in confidence, grasp a concept, write a compelling news story, or excel in their career or academics. It’s always a delight to hear the success stories of my students.

Wil Dubree (PhD’X)
L&S TA Teaching Mentor

What does this award mean to you both personally and professionally?

Being selected as an L&S Teaching Mentor is both an honor and an exciting opportunity. It allows me to collaborate with dedicated instructors across campus, strengthen my own teaching practices, and contribute to a community committed to excellent, student-centered instruction. Personally, I feel that this award is both a recognition of my hard work over the past few years and a chance to take the next step in my career as a teacher.

What is your favorite or most rewarding part of teaching?

The most rewarding part of teaching is seeing the growth in my students’ work over time. To be able to compare work from early in the semester to a final project makes the growth tangible and reinforces the value of what we do in the classroom.

Jisoo Kim (PhD’25)
UW–Madison Capstone Teaching Award

What does this award mean to you both personally and professionally?

It is like the last page of my diary shines! I have met over 500 students while teaching seven distinct courses as a TA and one course as an instructor of record at UW-Madison. All of them were my students and simultaneously teachers in a way that I can learn from and grow together. Invaluable memories with them are engraved on each page of my diary, sometimes with pride and sometimes with regret, like I could have done this better. So, receiving this award in my last semester is an acknowledgment of my pride and struggles. They will stay with me forever and guide my future career and approaches as a professor.

What is your favorite or most rewarding part of teaching?

I deeply value seeing students discover their strengths and desires over a semester and even years. I feel so rewarded when students are not discouraged by initial hardships and pursue one step further; when they bring brilliant ideas and leave classrooms with excitement about their next steps; when they delightfully say “on Wisconsin” when taking a photo together with me at the end of the semester(s); when they return to my new courses with even greater expectations and passions. All of my favorites will make me miss UW-Madison after I graduate.

Linqi Lu (PhD’X)
L&S TA Teaching Mentor

What does this award mean to you both personally and professionally?

Personally, this award reminds me of the importance of continually growing in order to better support students’ needs. It encourages me to seek out interdisciplinary resources and collaborate across fields to benefit both new and returning TAs. Professionally, it affirms my efforts to design meaningful, student-centered experiences and create an inclusive classroom environment. It motivates me to continue growing as an educator and mentor.

What is your favorite or most rewarding part of teaching?

The most rewarding part of teaching is seeing students grow in confidence and curiosity. I love designing interactive activities that spark joy, encourage collaboration, and make complex ideas feel approachable. Watching students light up with new understanding, ask thoughtful questions, and support one another in the learning process brings me so much fulfillment.