Sunday, March 27, 2011

it's funny what we write about

i realize that for the most part here in this blog i write mostly about my bike and what i do on my bike. Over the last year with the addition of some of the other crazy events that have occured i've added a bit about other things going on, you know, like being diagnosed with cancer and getting my leg cut off, but for the most part, even now that i'm an amputee, i write about riding my bike. I throw other things in here or there, i.e. something about the garden or a little complaint about the papers i have to grade, but i mostly write about riding my bike. The irony of that really hit me this week, see, i'm not really all that good at riding my bike. Actually let me rephrase that, i'm not really all that good at riding my bike fast. T-dub is good at riding her bike fast, but i'm not. I love riding my bike, even though at some point in every race i feel like i want to puke, i love riding my bike. But it's not something i excel at. I excel at teaching. I am an excellent teacher. and i love teaching. The irony, then, that so much of my blog is dedicated to something i'm not really that good at and i almost never write about something i am really good at, hit me this last week when i found out i have been awarded two awards for my work as an educator at the University of Utah. It's a little goofy right, that i don't mind posting my results in the local crit race (i did move up form last place in the first crit to 18th out of a field of 50 or so this last week), but i'm a tad bit self-conscious about posting my teaching accomplishments and recognitions. So, here they are. This year i have been awarded the University Equity and Diversity Award and selected as the UofU Honors College Distinguished Professor of the year.

Ashley, Yamila, me, Heidi, José, Alonso, Marti at the award luncheon for the Equity and Diversity Awards.

I am deeply honored by these awards. They are a tribute to the incredible colleagues, mentors, and students that i have the privilege of working with every day. My heartfelt thanks to those who nominated me. Thank you very much!

11 comments:

Courtney said...

Congrats Matt! I'm sure both awards are well deserved.

Flor said...

yay Matt congrats!

Lonnie and Reuben/Bob said...

Congratulations Matt! One of the things that makes you a great teacher is that you car3e so much for those you are teaching. Thanks for setting an example by being passionate about so many things that make a difference in the lives of people.

Ski Bike Junkie said...

Teaching awards, whatever. Moving up from last to 18th, awesome.

Congratulations on both.

fatguyonalittlebike said...

Books are useless: I only ever read one book, "To Kill A Mockingbird" - and it gave me absolutely no insight on how to kill mockingbirds! Sure it taught me not to judge a man by the color of his skin, but what good does THAT do me? "

Homer Simpson

Katie said...

congratulations!! woohoo!

Erin Bradley said...

Matt, that is huge!! You are a good guy!!!

marthabradleyevans said...

Matt: you rock, that is all there is to it. Our students are so incredibly blessed to have your remarkable example of integrity, compassion and devotion to equity. I am so blessed to have you in my life.

IG said...

U deserve em matt. your are a great teacher, activist, mentor, and friend. a real brother to the core. much love matt.

matt b. said...

Thank you everyone! Again, i'm honored to have such amazing people in my life.

Tanya said...

Congrats on these honors... you are a credit to your profession and probably won't ever know how much impact you have had... I still think about a number of professors and teachers who made a difference for me.