Demonstrations on our color vision, sweet receptors on your tongue and laboratory rats’ blood pressure are just a few tactics John Johnson, Ph.D., biology professor at Kent State University, uses in his classroom to keep his students engaged. And it works. Current medical student and Kent State alumnus Justin Kaufmann, ’14, who nominated Johnson for this award, found those demonstrations beneficial and interesting. “In nearly every lecture, he gave a sensory example that allowed the class to participate and drive his lesson home,” Kaufmann says. Another student said in a nominatio...

Professor David LaBelle and a group of five photojournalism students traveled to Kingsport, Tenn., on Nov. 22 to capture images and record footage of the Santa Train, the world’s largest Santa parade. The Santa Train runs a 110-mile route from Pikeville, Ky., to Kingsport, Tenn., each year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in celebration of the holiday season. The Santa Train makes 14 stops in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, distributing more than 15 tons and $300,000 worth of clothing, food, candy, toys and gifts to thousands of people. LaBelle and his wife,...