In 1968, the Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence was created to honor Dean Emeritus William L. Everitt at the time of his retirement. Annually recognizing two or more faculty members in the College of Engineering for their outstanding undergraduate teaching, the award is one of the most coveted by the faculty and serves to emphasize the value that is attached to good teaching in the college. Some of the most influential people in an individual's life are the teachers encountered during the school years.
Teachers shape the student's way of thinking and lay the foundation for future decisions.
Often, however, the roles of teachers are underestimated, and their efforts go unrecognized. Yet in every person's life, one teacher stands out and is remembered with respect, affection, and admiration. The teachers honored here were chosen as such personalities in a survey of undergraduate students in the College of Engineering. The award, which consists of a check and a plaque depicting Dean Everitt, is made possible through an endowment contributed by the personal and corporate friends of Dean Everitt. Peter Chen Peter Chen, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, can be found in his office as late as midnight some nights as he talks students through homework assignments or exam preparations.