Jagasia honored with Faculty Excellence Award

    By Maggie Rhynes
    IV Leader Staff

    This year's Faculty Excellence Award winner is perhaps as well known for her teaching skills as she is for her jar of hard candy. Koshu Jagasia, English instructor, was awarded the Faculty Excellent Award after being nominated by a student. The final decision was voted on by faculty members.
    Mark Edgcomb, a second-year student at IVCC, nominated Jagasia after taking her English class last year. In his nomination, Edgcomb shared a story of his first meeting with Jagasia in which he accidentally attended her class after misreading his schedule, only to find he was supposed to be in her class later that afternoon. On both visits, Edgcomb explained, Jagasia gave him a friendly wink, making him feel comfortable. "It was at that spilt second I realized this professor was going to make my return to academia meaningful and extremely enjoyable. She did not disappoint me; in fact, she taught me and gave me the knowledge to write with confidence and always pressed me to do superior work," Edgcomb wrote in his nomination.
    Saying he was extremely pleased to hear Jagasia had received the award, Edgcomb said, "She cares about each and every person, I don't know how she does it. She's taught me to do something I've never done before. She is the only teacher I really connected with, and she always gives me candy."
    Her candy is equally well known by her coworkers. Dean of English, Math and Education Marianne Dzik noted that Jagasia often brings candy to division or faculty meetings, even to graduation.
    What seems to be appreciated even more than Jagasia's candy is her personality and hard work. Dzik recalled Jagasia's first years at IVCC, when she took classes and worked as a student worker.
    "I was impressed at how she was here for only a short time and everyone knew her and loved her. She has such a kindness that she just worked her way into everyone's heart," Dzik said. “The faculty made an excellent decision.
    "She has a genuine interest in her students. She expects the best of them and she is there to help them," Dzik added, noting that it isn't unusual to see a line of students waiting outside Jagasia's office.
    Students have also noted Jagasia's friendly nature makes her an excellent teacher.
    "She's so friendly and more than willing to help," Brittany Muller said. "I feel like I can go to her for anything." Muller added, "I feel like she gives me the power to believe that I can get things done."
    Motivating students like Muller and Edgcomb to feel they can make things happen is one of Jagasia's goals as a teacher.
    "Each one of us is capable of making a difference, and I really mean that. Each one of us has our talent and we can make a difference," Jagasia said.
    Jagasia draws her own motivation from "God's grace, [her parent's blessings and the love of family and friends." She also credits her parents for leading her to the teaching field. "They were fantastic teachers," she said.
    "What we call study skills today, they used at home with us all the time. They made learning fun." Having younger siblings also gave Jagasia the opportunity to practice her craft, long before she knew it would be her profession. Her own teachers also motivated Jagasia and helped steer her into the teaching field.
    The work she has been motivated to do has given her a career with many rewards. Among them she noted "sometimes when in the classroom, you see a student and you know 'oh, they've got it.' Those times are special. Or when years later, you run into someone at the mall or someone sends a card, and they say I've made a difference in their lives that is rewarding."
    While students may feel they are getting a good education in Jagasia's classroom, she feels she is learning from them as well.
    "Constantly, they teach me constantly. I'm amazed at how much they do: school, work, boyfriends or girlfriends, car payments or children. Their coping skills are amazing. Plus I always ask for feedback and they are always honest with me and they make me a better teacher," Jagasia said of her students.
    Jagasia has been at IVCC for over 12 years and considers the IVCC community part of her family. "I was a student here for two years and everything was new; it was like looking at stars. The way they took me in; I felt like a bird that had flown into a warm nest," Jagasia explained about counting the folks at IVCC among her family.
    Dzik said, "She not only cares so much about her students, but about her co-workers. She expects the best from them as well, and in turn she always gives her best."
    To her college family, Jagasia sends the message and piece of advice: "Thanks to each one of you for being part of my life and try to collect as many positive karmas as you can."