Faculty choose Ault for Excellence Award

By Courtnie Shanyfelt
and JJ Ossola
IV Leader Staff

    Larry Ault has been named the fifth recipient of the Illinois Valley Community College 2005 Faculty Excellence Award.
    Ault’s recognition was formally announced March 16 at the IVCC board meeting.
    Louis Caldwell, Rebecca Donna and Michael Pecherek were also nominated.
    The Faculty Excellence Award recognizes instructors or counselors for outstanding service in teaching, leadership, professional development and contributions to the college and the community.
    Ault has been with IVCC since 2001 but has taught high school and college classes for 21 years. Ault, who served in the Air Force and also works as an environmental consultant for a Northbrook firm, said, “Teaching isn’t something that you chose as a career, it chooses you.”
    Ault graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1973, received his master of music degree in 1976 from Emporia (Kansas) State University, and in 2000 he received the masters of science degree in environmental science from The School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University – Bloomington.
    At IVCC, Ault teaches chemistry and percussion, and says, “It is my dream to either teach music or teach chemistry.” He also said, “It’s a joy to be doing both of the things that I love on a daily basis.”
    Praise for Ault’s work at IVCC ranges from, “Larry Ault has become the soul of the physical science lab” to he “has a rare, positive view of the world.” He has also been described as, “not only a good teacher but also a pleasant person to be around.”
    Ault was nominated for the faculty award by a number of his students.
    The award comes with a $500 stipend and formal recognition at an employee event in May.
    Prior recipients of the Faculty Excellence Award include Diane Christianson, Steven Charry, Randy Rambo, and Pam Mammano.