Schmidt’s contributions to the Department of Biological Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the University are immeasurable. Schmidt joined the Department of Biological Sciences as a horticulturist in 1983 and has since maintained two green houses, one in Felmley Hall and one in the Science Laboratory Building. He manages and maintains the state-of-the-art micro computer-controlled research greenhouse in the Science Laboratory Building and coordinates the laboratory portion of the freshman biology course (BSC 196). Schmidt has served as the Director of the Funks Grove Prairie Savannah Restoration Project and is a founding member of the Fell Arboretum. His most notable role, though, is as the “Dean of Green” on WGLT, the University's national public radio station, where he provides education and entertainment while offering the general public an opportunity to learn about plants.
Wenning’s tenure as the Director of the Physics Department’s Teacher Education Program (PTE) is a tale of success. Wenning joined the Physics Department in 1978 and has served as lecturer in Physics, lecturer in Astronomy, Director of the Illinois State University Planetarium, and Faculty Associate at University High School. Wenning has made astounding contributions in the area of teacher-education programs and has single-handedly transformed a 4-hour teacher-education curriculum at Illinois State University to a sequence of six-course curricula, which is acclaimed as one of the best teacher-education programs in the nation. In addition, Wenning teaches six Physics Teacher Education courses and is the project leader of the Instructional Technology Passport System; the Illinois Section American Association of Physics Teachers Ad Hoc Committee for High School Physics Teacher Recruitment Preparation and Retention; and the Introductory Physics Lab Group Writing Team. He is also the co-leader of the Challenger Learning Center Education Team (CLC), as well as the President of the CLC Executive Advisory Council and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Physics Teacher Education On-line. “Carl Wenning is a recognized leader in statewide science education,” said Associate Dean Jonathan Rosenthal. “He has enormous energy, and I am often amazed at the number of projects he keeps cooking simultaneously. When something needs to be done and done well, folks call Carl Wenning. Carl exemplifies the many roles and responsibilities that Administrative Professional employees take on across campus, from teaching, to research, to grant writing, to advising.”
“These awards are meant to demonstrate that the College truly values our staff professionals as colleagues who work side by side with the rest of us to serve our students and further our mission,” said Dean Olson.
Wenning and Schmidt will be recognized at the CAS Awards Ceremony on February 4, and both will receive a $1,500 award for their outstanding contribution to the College.