About 50 faculty members gathered in the Altgeld Hall auditorium to honor their distinguished colleagues Wednesday afternoon.

A jovial reception preceded the awards ceremony with coffee, punch and gourmet cheesecake.

The curtains dropped and the lights dimmed, signaling the beginning of the ceremony. Faculty slowly moved to their chairs like students to their desks.

Master of Ceremonies Vice Provost Earl Seaver introduced NIU President John Peters.

Peters mistakenly dropped his valuable Blackberry on the way to the podium. In true form, he recovered quickly, making light of it to an amused audience.

These mentors, innovators and leaders are molding new generations of critical thinkers, Peters said.

Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching awards went to Katharina Barbe, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures, Lisa Finkelstein, associate professor of psychology and David Gunkel, associate professor of communication.

“We have a chance to change students’ lives and make them civic minded,” said John Hartmann, professor of foreign languages and literatures.

The Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Instruction went to English instructor Joseph Bonomo. It was the first year the award went to a non-tenure or tenure track faculty.

“There is nothing I would rather be doing than working with students making a difference in the world,” said Richard Orem, professor of literacy education.

The Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Research Awards were coupled with presentations documenting the excellence of the professors.

The Presidential Research Professor awards went to physics professor Court Bohn, philosophy chair David Buller and history chair Kenton Clymer.

“I try to get methodology and practice of law intertwined in class,” said David Taylor, professor of law. “It’s quite an honor to be singled out.”