H.O.P.E. Teaching Award


Fall view of Jayhawk Boulevard

Award Information

The H.O.P.E. (Honor for the Outstanding Progressive Educator) Award was established by the KU class of 1959 to recognize the recipients’ outstanding teaching and concern for students. It is the only KU award for teaching excellence bestowed exclusively by students and is led by the Board of Class Officers. The winner is selected by the senior class members and the award is presented in the fall semester of the senior class year.

Nomination Information:

A request for nominations is sent to all KU seniors to nominate outstanding professors. Nominations are asked for typically in September/October. The top five faculty members receiving the highest number of nominations are then interviewed by members of the Board of Class Officers and the Senior Advisory Board. Finalists are invited to a reception with previous winners and students as well as a football game where the winner is announced on the field. 

2023 H.O.P.E Award Recipient: Shuai Sun


Past Recipients of the H.O.P.E. Teaching Award

  • 2023, Shuai Sun, Chemistry
  • 2022, Josephine Chandler, Molecular Biosciences
  • 2022, Eileen Hotze, Molecular Biosciences
  • 2021, Jonathan Hagel, History
  • 2021, Sarah Jen, Social Welfare 
  • 2020, Kapila Silva, Architecture
  • 2019, Matt O'Reilly, Civil Engineering
  • 2018, Shawn Keshmiri, Aerospace Engineering
  • 2017, Amii Castle, Business and Law
  • 2016, Robert Sorem, Mechanical Engineering
  • 2015, David Pendergrass, Undergraduate Biology, Edwards Campus
  • 2014, Stephen Ilardi, Psychology
  • 2013, Phillip Hofstra, Design
  • 2012, Bernie Kish, Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences
  • 2011, Denise Linville, Journalism
  • 2010, Matthew Buechner, Molecular Biosciences
  • 2009, Mary Klayder, English
  • 2008, Craig Martin, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • 2008, Edward McBride, Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
  • 2007, Paul Hanson, Chemistry
  • 2006, Charles Marsh, Journalism
  • 2005, Stephen Ilardi, Psychology
  • 2004, Charles R. Snyder, Psychology
  • 2003, Bozenna Pasik-Duncan, Mathematics
  • 2002, Craig Martin, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • 2001, William Tuttle Jr., History, American Studies
  • 2000, Victor Contoski, English
  • 1999, Alice Lieberman, Social Welfare
  • 1998, Linda Davis, Journalism
  • 1997, Renate R. Mai-Dalton, Business
  • 1996, Marylee Z. Southard, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  • 1995, Jeff AubĂ©, Medicinal Chemistry
  • 1994, Dennis M. Dailey, Social Welfare
  • 1993, Theodore Johnson, French and Italian
  • 1992, Daryl C. Evans, Sociology
  • 1991, Charles (Rick) Snyder, Psychology
  • 1990, Bedru Yimer, Mechanical Engineering
  • 1989, Valentino J. Stella, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • 1988, Don Green, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  • 1987, Zuohuang Chen, Music and Dance
  • 1986, Timothy Bengtson, Journalism
  • 1985, Mike Kautsch, Journalism
  • 1984, Erica Stern, Occupational Therapy
  • 1983, Clark Bricker, Chemistry
  • 1982, Gene Martin, Pharmacology
  • 1981, William Balfour, Physiology and Cell Biology
  • 1980, Frank Gurtler, Occupational Therapy
  • 1979, Clark Bricker, Chemistry
  • 1978, J. Hammond McNish, Business
  • 1977, Peter Turk, Journalism
  • 1976, Calder Pickett, Journalism
  • 1975, John Senior, IHP and Classics
  • 1974, Edward McBride Sr., Engineering
  • 1973, John Michel, Speech and Drama
  • 1972, John Bremner, Journalism
  • 1972, Arno Knapper, Business
  • 1972, Elizabeth Schultz, English
  • 1971, James L. Koevenig, Biology
  • 1970, Clark Bricker, Chemistry
  • 1969, Dennis Quinn, IHP and English
  • 1968, J. Eldon Fields, Political Science
  • 1967, Aldon Bell, History
  • 1966, Clark Bricker, Chemistry
  • 1965, Richard DeGeorge, Philosophy, Slavic and Soviet Area Studies
  • 1964, James Sterritt, Architecture
  • 1963, Oscar Haugh, Curriculum and Instruction
  • 1962, Vaclav Mudroch, History
  • 1961, Allan Crafton, Speech and Drama
  • 1959, Clayton Krehbiel, Music Education