LAKELAND, Fla. (March 26, 2008) — Dr. Eric Kjellmark, associate professor of biology at Florida Southern College, received the Ben and Janice Wade Outstanding Teaching Award during the college’s Founders Day Convocation held March 13. This award, established in 1997, is conferred annually upon the Florida Southern College professor who has demonstrated outstanding classroom teaching performance, the encouragement of which was a priority of Dr. Wade during his fifteen-year tenure as Florida Southern's chief academic officer (1973-77; 1985-96).

Kjellmark will receive a monetary award as this year’s recipient. The citation presented to him during the convocation reads in part: “He collaborates extensively with students in his quiet and articulate manner – wherever he is needed, he will be found. His breadth of knowledge that he shares is legion. One of his colleagues said this about him: ‘In teaching our students botany, plant physiology, and plant taxonomy, he tackles a body of knowledge that is difficult for students. Yet I have observed that our students really do know their subjects and perceive their relevance. He has inspired them to become enthusiastic about the subject, and they carry that enthusiasm forever with them.’”

Kjellmark has been with Florida Southern since 1996. He received his bachelor’s degree from DePauw University, his master’s from Miami University and his doctorate from Duke University.