May 18, 1997 -- Reno, Nevada

The University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) Board of Regents (Board) approved nominations for the 1997 Nevada Regents' awards at its regular meeting of March 13-14, 1997. These four awards for extraordinary achievements in community college teaching, university teaching, research and creative activities, are formally presented at Commencement in May and include a special medal and $5,000.

Regents' Teaching Award for Community College Faculty The Board approved the nomination of Richard F. Riendeau for the Regents' teaching award for community college faculty. Richard Riendeau joined the faculty of Western Nevada Community College in 1981 as a professor of English and Developmental English. During his tenure at WNCC, he has taught a variety of courses as well as modules in the areas of study skills, reading, spelling and vocabulary development. He has been involved in the development of various curriculum projects, including a comprehensive Developmental English curriculum and the initial curriculum for the College's Academic Skills Center. He was instrumental in establishing a reading program and has chaired the Developmental Education department. Professor Riendeau was the recipient of the first annual Teacher of the Year Award at WNCC.

Regents' Teaching Award for University and DRI Faculty

The Board approved the nomination of H. Eugene LeMay, Jr. for the Regents' teaching award for university and DRI faculty. Eugene LeMay began his career at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1966 in the Chemistry Department and has personally influenced the education and careers of over 5,000 students. He is held in high regard, as reflected in a letter of support signed by 19 of his students, indicating that "he portrays a youthful exuberance toward a subject that can sometimes be dull and unexciting ... and his commitment to teaching excellence makes him truly an asset to our university system.." Every semester Dr. LeMay's general chemistry sections are filled to capacity and many more students are on waiting lists. Throughout his career, he has consistently received the highest student evaluations. His textbook, Introductory Chemistry, which is now in its 7th edition, is the most widely used text in the country and has been translated into five foreign languages. Eugene LeMay is the recipient of several UNR awards for teaching, including the Alan Bible Teaching Excellence Award, the Teacher of the Year Award and the UNR Distinguished Teaching award.

Regents' Researcher Award

The Board approved the nomination of Warren Burggren, Interim Dean of the College of Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), for the Regents' Researcher award. Warren Burrggren is an international authority in the field of comparative animal physiology, as evidenced by his outstanding research program, record of publications, visiting lectures, invited symposia and recent editorship of one of the most prestigious joumals in his field. He is considered a world authority in his specialty of comparative physiology of cardiovascular and respiratory systems and how those systems evolved to allow animals to survive on land. His research has been continuously funded through competitive national grants for the past 23 years, and he has also been the recipient of private foundation, university and training grants. He has edited, authored or co-authored eight books and a lengthy list of book chapters, book reviews and articles in referred joumals also attest to his distinguished career.

Regents' Award for Creative Activities

The Board approved the nomination of Carol Kimball, Professor of Music at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for the Regents' award for creative activities. Dr. Kimball has received numerous awards during her 25-year career at UNLV. Among these are the 1966 Outstanding Faculty Award presented by the UNLV Alumni Association, the Nevada Governor's Arts Award and the Barrick Scholar Award. Dr. Kimball is the Founder-Director of the UNLV Opera Theatre, served as past interim Chair of the Department of Dance Arts, Chair of the Department of Music and is the editor of Opera Journal, a referred publication of the National Opera Association.

Dr. Kimball has presented approximately 80 recital concerts in southem Nevada since joining the music faculty in 1972. She has performed solo recitals at the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts in New York City, the Mexico National Symphony, Nevada Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Summer Musicals and was recently invited to Paris to participate in a recital honoring French composer Jacques Leguemey.

Her research in French song and opera is well-known; she recently published a unique book entitled Song: A Guide to Style and Literature which is an overview of 136 composers and 485 descriptive annotations of single songs and cycles of song literature of 10 countries.