**These awards and nominations are exciting in and of themselves, but I am forever grateful for the folks that took the time, wrote applications, and nominated me for such prestigious honors, even though, I am undeserving. But, because someone took the time to nominate me, I feel I have already won! That is the best part of all. – dr. tnt
Awards & Nominations
- David J. Beck Teaching Fellowship Nominee, 2019
- University Merit Award Nominee, 2019
- Ruth Olcott Award College of Education Nominee, 2018
- Wayne A. Reaud Annual Recognition Banquet, Featured Faculty Member, 2018
- Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, Nominee, 2018
- Lamar Student Education Association State Scrapbook Winner, 2017
- College of Education and Human Development Voted-In College Crest Winner, 2016
- College of Education and Human Development Homecoming Float, Grand Champion, 2016
- College of Education and Human Development Homecoming Float, Most Spirited, 2015
- Kappa Delta Pi Academic Honor Society, Lifelong Inductee, 2014
- Florida Educational Data Systems Award, State Educator Recipient, 2011
- Golden Apple Teacher Distinguished Educator, Winner, 2009
- Foundation for Lee County Schools Teacher of Distinction, Top 100 Teachers, 2009
- Lee County School District Instructor of the Year, Nominee, 2009
- Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Teacher-of-the-Year Award Recipient, 2008
- Golden Apple Teacher, Finalist, 2008
- Foundation for Lee County Schools Teacher of Distinction, Top 100 Teachers, 2008
Students Sharing….
Mackenzie Savage – REAUD Honor’s College student, Lamar University, Class of 2022
After settling into school and softball, the first opportunity I saw to truly expand and document my college experience was through my ePortfolio. This was a way to envision who I wanted to be as a college student, and to share that vision with others. I formatted my eP to contain a blog, photos of things I was doing in softball with my teammates, where I travelled, and everything I was doing on campus. I have added more to my site, such as the hours I spent shadowing , volunteer hours, and various pieces of school work. Without knowing it, Dr. Thibodeaux had been picking up on the effort I put into my ePortfolio and reached out to ask if I would like to join her in a presentation over the importance of digital literacy. Because I believe in the multitude of benefits of the ePortfolio, I knew I would love the opportunity to be an ambassador alongside her. Several presentations later, I was asked to join the ePortfolio advisory committee. Since then, I have enjoyed my time on the committee because I am able to spread awareness and knowledge about something I am passionate about, and have been able to learn more about my place in the digital world through my work with Dr. Thibodeaux. As an extension of the presentations, our committee submitted a proposal and was accepted to present at the National Collegiate Honors Council in New Orleans, this November.
Natalie Smith – Digital Learning and Leading, Class of 2020
Dr. Tilisa Thibodeaux was the professor of Concepts of Educational Technology, one of the classes I have taken through Lamar’s Education Technology M.Ed. program. One of the videos we watched stressed the life fact that “serendipity happens.” This video was important to me because it felt like serendipity that I was enrolled in Dr. Thibodeaux’s class. In my professional life, I had focused the entire school year to developing an ePortfolio program with our middle and high school students. I had run into some setbacks and was still needing guidance in this area. Dr. Thibodeaux’s class focused on many things, but ePortfolios was one of the key components of the class. She has done extensive research on this topic, and it was the information that I needed at exactly the right time. The classes at Lamar are focused on what students need and are applicable to their own professional lives. While we learn a lot of educational philosophy and theory, we also get real-world tools to use immediately in our professions.
Interviewed by the Dr. Will Show