Laura Hanes/The Falcon ASSP President and senior Daniel Miller presents this year’s Professor of the Year award to Delia Nuesch-Olver during the annual President’s Spring Forum Tuesday morning in Royal Brougham.

Delia Nuesch-Olver took a moment from her holistic ministries class yesterday afternoon to say "thank you" to her students. That morning's Chapel, she joked, was probably the one time she felt speechless.

Hours earlier, Nuesch-Olver, associate professor of theology, had been awarded Faculty of the Year during the 2008 President's Spring Forum in Royal Brougham Pavilion.

Faculty of the Year is nominated by students, narrowed down by a council of seniors from different academic areas, and voted on by student Senate, said ASSP President Daniel Miller, who presented the award.

The President's Spring Forum's 79 honorees, including Nuesch-Olver, represented 1,085 years of service, President Philip Eaton said. "There is a long-term commitment to this place, and we are very excited and proud of that," Eaton said.

"I am very moved. I am profoundly honored because I know I work with extraordinary faculty here," Nuesch-Olver said during a reception following the ceremony.

Born in Argentina, Nuesch-Olver founded the fast-growing Global and Urban Ministries (GUM) minor, Miller said. An ordained pastor, Nuesch-Olver will be leaving SPU this year to become an area director for Latin American missions in the Free Methodist church, Miller said.

Senior Elias Wallace feels that Nuesch-Olver is very enthusiastic and entertaining, as well as vocal and passionate.

"I think she's a wonderful teacher, from my past experience," Wallace said.

Honored for 35 years of service was Frank Spina. Honored for 30 years of service were Barbara Bovy, Bob Drovdahl, Rob Wall, and Bob Weathers. Faculty and staff members recognized for serving for 25 years: Jean Brown, Debbie Crouch, Doug Downing, Sharon Fernandez, Jennifer Gilnett, Dale Kegley, Susan Lane, Debra Sequeira and Marci Walden. Recognized for 20 years of service were: Ruth Adams, Jerry Essenpreis, Jerry Finch, Kenda Gatlin, Jackie Hovick, Darrell Jacobsen, Karen Jacobson, Clint Kelly, Joanna Poznanska, Michael Roe, Dick Smith, Doug Thorpe, Janet Ward and Kay White. Staff and faculty recognized for 15 years at SPU were: Mary Jayne Allen, David Diekema, Philip Eaton, Susan Gallagher, Mardeth Hughes, Donna McLynne, Cindy Price, Glen Prindle, Jim Rand, Annette Rendahl, Kim Sawers and Elonna Visser. Celebrated for 10 years of service at SPU were: Jackie Belz, Carrie Fry, Kristen Labrecque, Gerry Marsh, Ed Newlin, Delia Nuesch-Olver, Tina Sellers, John Thoburn, David Wicks and Bev Wilson. Finally, faculty and staff members honored for five years of service were: Henry Algera, Kandace Barnes, Shelley Bartels, Janet Bester-Meredith, Joyce Bhang, Mary DeJong, Jenn Dwyer, Shaun Ellingson, Christie Eppler, Debby Espinor, Cindy Herley, Matthew Koenig, Sara Koenig, Whitney Kruse, Carrie McCrimmon, Ben McFarland, Laurie Mendes, John Mouser, Nyaradzo Mvududu, Erin O'Connell, Linda Pedersen, Henry Peterson, Owen Sallee, Chuck Sekyra, Lori Tongol, Bud Turner, Timothy Ulrich, Shawn Whitney and Kathy Wimer.

"It makes perfect sense in my mind," said junior Abby McHugh after hearing of Nuesch-Olver's award. She moves students to be concerned and to care about the subject matter, McHugh said.

"She is incredibly passionate and genuine in her pursuit of God, but equally as passionate about communicating it to us," McHugh said. She has more than once left Nuesch-Olver's class moved to tears, McHugh said.

Nuesch-Olver connects with students on multiple levels, said junior Monica Jeffery. She takes students to Buenos Aires so they can have practical experience living in other cultures. Nuesch-Olver also meets with students individually, offering encouragement and wisdom about their globally-minded futures, Jeffery said.

The university values Nuesch-Olver's unique gifts and will miss her, said Eaton. "We hate to see her go. She's on to things that I think really fit her," Eaton said after the forum.

In the forum, Eaton also recognized faculty who have been with the university for five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years. Special recognition was given to Frank Spina, professor of Christian scriptures, for 35 years of service.

While the other faculty honorees received gifts wrapped in gold paper, Spina was given his own wooden lacquered rocking chair, complete with an SPU monogram and a large black bow.

Spina was accompanied on stage by his young granddaughter, Grace Betty Taylor, who helped him test out the new rocking chair. Six weeks ago, Spina was asked whether he would like a wooden rocking chair or a regular straight-backed chair, he said.

"When you're a grandpa, you've got to have a rocking chair," Spina said in an interview after the ceremony. The chair will stay in his office until he retires so that he and Grace can read books when she comes to visit, Spina said.

Since he came to SPU 35 years ago, the School of Theology (formerly the School of Religion) has grown from six to 17 full-time faculty members, Spina said. SPU has grown in terms of its size, diversity, and outward focus, he said.

"He is one of my heroes here. He is deeply committed to this place. He's a wise and senior voice among this place," Eaton said of Spina. "I value him immensely."

Two additional awards were presented for Staff Member of the Year. The awards are divided into the exempt and non-exempt categories, based on whether or not the position is salaried, said Staff Council President Josh Meier, who presented the awards. Both recipients are nominated by faculty and staff and selected by a staff council, Meier said.

Caenisha Warren, administrative assistant in the John Perkins Center, was awarded Non-Exempt Staff Member of the Year. Warren was unable to attend the ceremony because of a conference in Chicago on the topic of reconciliation.

Karen Jacobson, executive assistant to the president, was awarded Exempt Staff Member of the Year. Jacobson, who has served as executive assistant to the past three university presidents, received a standing ovation when her name was called.

Jacobson, who was honored earlier in the ceremony for her 20 years of service to the university, was shocked and surprised to receive the staff award.

Eaton described Jacobson as loyal, hardworking, and extremely competent.

"She is fabulous," Eaton said in an interview after the awards ceremony.