Call for Nominations: John Stone Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award
CATLST is pleased to invite nominations for the newly established John Stone Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award, which recognizes outstanding commitment to student learning and inclusive pedagogy, with special attention to instructional innovation, creativity, and originality. This award will recognize instructors who take risks, try new approaches, engage deeply with students, and intentionally reflect on their teaching practices in order to enhance student learning.
About the Award
This award is named in honor of John Stone. Dr. Stone started his career at UW-Whitewater in 1990 as a faculty member in the Department of Communication. He held many leadership positions at UWW, including serving for 13 years as the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education (GSCE).
John was instrumental in shaping a culture of teaching excellence at UW-Whitewater. He founded the LEARN Center, UWW’s first office dedicated to providing instructors with professional development opportunities in teaching and learning. As LEARN Center Director, John created the university’s First Year Program for new faculty, launched a campus-wide Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program, and developed the Department Chairs Council. As Dean of GSCE, John funded the original Innovations in Teaching Grants, the forerunner of today’s Provost’s Office Teaching and Learning Grants. He was a passionate advocate for the professional development, lifelong learning, and continuous growth of higher education instructors.
Application Instructions
Eligibility
All full-time and part-time faculty, lecturers, and instructors who have taught at least one course during the current academic year are eligible. Self nominations are welcome.
Requirements and Supporting Documents
a) name, rank, department, college, and years of service
b) a reflection statement (approximately 500 words) articulating how the nominee demonstrates innovation, creativity, and originality in teaching. These statements could address one’s teaching holistically, or could focus on a particular course/course assignment/course activity.
c) Three to five (3-5) supporting materials, such as a brief set of student comments/evaluations, student thank you notes, examples of student work, syllabi, a sample assignment, news coverage about a class project or student success, peer observations, letter of support from a peer, student, or administrator, or other relevant evidence. The selection of these materials is at the discretion of the applicant. When selecting supporting materials, applicants should prioritize clarity and substance over volume—applicants will not be disadvantaged for submitting minimal but strong materials.
Submission Instructions
Please submit materials via the John Stone Excellence Award Application. The application deadline is 11:59pm, April 3. Questions may be directed to Sue Wildermuth or CATLST.
Awardee Recognition
The winner of the will be recognized with an honorarium of $1,000 supported by the John Stone Excellence in Teaching Innovation endowment fund. All award applicants and the campus community are invited to attend an inaugural John Stone Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award reception as part of the annual Celebrating Teaching and Learning conference, held on May 20th, 2026 at the University Center.
About the Award Fund
The John Stone Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award Fund was established in 2025 by a small group of John’s friends, family, and colleagues. If you would like to contribute to ongoing efforts to endow this award in his memory, we would be honored to include you. Simply visit the UW-Whitewater Foundation Give Now page. Enter the amount you are donating and select the “Stone, John, Innovations in Teaching Excellence Award”. Contributions of any amount are welcome and appreciated.