Faculty and staff awards celebrated meaningful contributions from Samford community members during the university’s 184th opening convocation on Aug. 26.
Thomas W. Woolley Scholarly Achievement
Frank Thielman received the Thomas W. Woolley Scholarly Achievement Award, given annually to a faculty member who exemplifies the highest level of scholarly achievement and contribution to the broader academic community. The recipient is chosen by the provost in consultation with a designated committee.
Thielman’s 30-year record of publication and international recognition as a scholar set him apart.
Advocates commented of Theilman:
- “He rises to the top among a strong group of scholars with his variety, quality, and quantity of publications.”
- “He is a world-class scholar. He is a prolific author of award-winning books and journal articles. By my count, he is the author of nine monographs, one co-edited volume, and dozens of journal articles. In just the last five years, he has published three books, and his monographs have been translated into five languages.”
- “His publications not only impact the international scholarly conversations about New Testament interpretation and theology, they also are utilized in undergraduate and graduate classrooms, as well as by ministers as they prepare to teach and preach in various church settings. His research also informs and deepens his own classroom teaching, and as the students at Beeson regularly communicate, he is among the very best classroom teachers the students have ever encountered.”
Buchanan Award for Excellence in Teaching
William “Bill" Belski received the John H. Buchanan Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching, presented annually to a faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional teaching at the undergraduate level.
The Buchanan award recipient is selected by a faculty committee from nominations submitted by members of the senior class.
Belski, a faculty member at Samford for 21 years, was nominated by students who commented:
- “When anyone says the word accounting at Samford, his name is going to come up. He is respected, valued, appreciated, and very important to every student in the accounting department. His class is hard, really hard, but on the other side of it, you see how much it benefits you.”
- “He has influenced my time at Samford more than I can express. He played a major role in my personal development and the way I value my education. I used to think grades were the only thing that mattered. He taught me how to properly study and retain information, and the importance of learning material instead of just memorizing it.”
- “My Samford experience would not even be close to the same without him.”
MORE: Former winners of the Woolley and Buchanan awards
Bill Nunnelly Award
Jeff Poleshek, Samford’s assistant vice president for operations, planning and construction, received the Nunnelly Award. It recognizes staff members who support the mission, strive for vocational success, serve with university and civic engagement, seek equality and justice, and show personal responsibility and stewardship throughout their daily activities.
Poleshek has served as the point person on $300 million worth of construction projects, including new residence halls named for Audrey Lattimore Gaston and Marvin L. Mann, two new upper-division Greek letter residence halls, the nationally recognized renovation of The Caf, and the 165,000-square-foot Campus, Recreation Wellness and Athletics Complex.
Nominators’ comments about Poleshek included:
- “He makes me feel like my project is the most important on campus, regardless of the scope or dollar amount involved.”
MORE: Former Nunnelly Award winners
