Former interdisciplinary studies student Shelly Neely and the print she created for Marian Martinello, on behalf of those participating in the Martinello Prize for Inquiry ceremonies. At right, College of Education and Human Development faculty members Miriam Martinez and Nancy Martin; award finalists Sativa Rasmussen, John Kliewer and Nikki Stohr; and Interim Dean Blandina Cardenas.
Martinello Awards presented to five students for research projects
(Sept. 11, 2001)--Ceremonies were held in early September by the College of Education and Human Development honoring student winners of the Martinello Prize for Inquiry. The awards, founded by UTSA Professor Emerita Marian Martinello in honor of her grandparents, Marietta and Guiseppantonio Martinello, recognize the best projects by interdisciplinary studies students who have completed the required education course "Modes of Inquiry Across the Fields of Study" during the past academic year.
Winners and their topics were Erica Koehler, "The Parish of the Annunciation-St. Hedwig, Texas;" Tom Castanos, "A San Antonio Urban Legend;" Sativa Rasmussen, "The Shoe Buckle;" John Kliewer, "The Life of Artist C. Montgomery;" and Nikki Stohr, "Summer Library Reading Program."
Each received a $100 prize. A four-member panel comprising faculty and students chose the winners through a blind review of nominated papers.
Master of ceremonies was Paul McKeough, and Miriam Martinez, chair of interdisciplinary studies and curriculum and instruction, gave a history of the Martinello Prize and introduced this year's finalists.
"Our goal (in the education of teachers) is to create transformative leaders and scholars that will have an impact outside the walls of the classroom," said Martinez. "The ability to ask questions and strong research and writing abilities are essential tools in this process."
Other faculty taking part in the presentation included Susanne Kimball, Nancy Martin, Mary McKeough and COEHD Interim Dean Blandina Cardenas, who described Martinello as the "consumate" teacher. "It is our reponsibility to instill within our students a passion for inquiry that can be passed on to others. Marian Martinello is a constant source of inspiration to these 'inspirers,'" Cardenas said.
Former interdisciplinary studies student Shelly Neely presented a print that she created for Martinello, on behalf of the group. McKeough accepted the work on behalf of Martinello, who was unable to attend the ceremonies due to illness.
Martinello and a team of faculty from diverse disciplines developed "Modes" in 1987. The course takes each student on a journey of exploration and discovery, fostering much student participation as part of its structure. For their projects, students choose topics of personal interest, exploring various avenues of inquiry and formulating incisive questions. These questions lead to poignant discoveries.
Students use methodologies employed universally by researchers, keeping a project notebook of relevant findings, developing an inquiry plan and conducting research, using a wide variety of resources. The papers they write in the end are not conventional research papers, however. Rather, the focus is more on the questions themselves: what is asked and how. The ultimate question--and the goal of "Modes"--is to lead students to deeper critical thinking about how the process helps them to understand the world in which they live.
Read more about the Martinello Prize and the text of winning papers.