During the 2008-2009 academic year, the members of the Chi Rho Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society established an award to honor an English Department Faculty member who, each year, best supports the mission of Sigma Tau Delta and the Chi Rho Chapter in its efforts to:
• confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
• provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in the surrounding communities;
• foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language and writing;
• promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
• exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
• serve society by fostering literacy.
Any member of the Honor Society can nominate an English Faculty member for the award by composing a short statement detailing how that professor supports Sigma Tau Delta and its mission. After members vote, the award is presented to the winner at the last English Department Faculty meeting of the year and the winner is invited to give the keynote speech at the Induction Ceremony the following spring.
2009 Sigma Tau Delta English Faculty Member of the Year
Professor Scott Pleasant
Professor Scott Pleasant teaches Business and Professional Communication, Composition, and American Literature courses for the English Department. He also teaches tennis for the Physical Education Department. You might also find him playing music (guitar, bass, etc.) for a Theatre Department production. If he's not doing any of the above, odds are you'll find Prof. Pleasant playing a ukulele or performing with faculty rockers Virtue Trap. As detailed in his nomination statement, the members of Sigma Tau Delta believed that Prof. Pleasant best supported them in their mission for the 2008-2009 academic year and are looking forward to his keynote address at the Spring 2010 Induction Ceremony.
"Plez deserves this honor because no matter the situation, be it stressful or joyous, he is always there for the students and goes above and beyond for them. A good professor is one who wants to bring out the best in his students and is disappointed when he sees potential wasted. This is what Prof. Pleasant does every single day."
2008-2009 English Faculty of the Year Award Nominees
Joe Oestreich
Professor Joe Oestreich teaches courses in Creative Writing in the area of creative non-fiction. For this award, Prof. Oestreich received two nomination statements:
"I would like to nominate Joe Oestreich for Sigma Tau Delta Faculty of the Year. He has taught me so much about the genre of nonfiction that I feel like this whole world has opened up to me as a writer. The lessons on the devices used to create a piece have not only benefitted me inside his classroom, but I feel I can apply to other arenas I may choose to write in. He is a great addition to staff."
"I'm voting for Joe Oestreich, obvious 'coolness' aside, because he has taught me so much in his Creative Non-Fiction class. He keeps me interested the entire time, and even went as far outside of class as to tell me about some good ways to try and score an internship. Before taking his class, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my English degree, but now I find myself writing non-fiction pieces in my spare time just for fun. He's great!!!!"
Sara Sanders
Dr. Sara Sanders has taught with the English Department since 1987 and is a former chair of the department. Her area of focus is linguistics.
"I would like to nominate Dr. Sara Sanders. Without a doubt she fulfills all of the criteria and then some. She goes far beyond her duties as a Professor for every student who asks for her time, she works very hard outside CCU to further the study of English, and she is of the highest character possible. She has been instrumental in not only supporting Sigma Tau but in helping start the Language and Society Club. Sara is the best of the best in every aspect of helping to foster literacy here at Coastal and everywhere else she can."
Carol Osborne
Dr. Carol Osborne joined the faculty of CCU in 2002 as a member of the Spadoni School of Education. She moved to the English Department in the Spring of 2008 and her areas of focus and study are contemporary and adolescent literature, popular culture and English education.
"I would like to nominate Carol Osborne. She's one of the most difficult teachers I've ever had, but I've learned more in her class than I have in many others.
She's strict, but all the work is worth it in the end. She's really influenced my decision to try my hand at teaching. A lot of people don't like her, but I think they're just lazy and don't want to be challenged. I definitely don't think she gets all the credit she deserves."
Professor Joe Oestreich teaches courses in Creative Writing in the area of creative non-fiction. For this award, Prof. Oestreich received two nomination statements:
Dr. Sara Sanders has taught with the English Department since 1987 and is a former chair of the department. Her area of focus is linguistics. 
Dr. Carol Osborne joined the faculty of CCU in 2002 as a member of the Spadoni School of Education. She moved to the English Department in the Spring of 2008 and her areas of focus and study are contemporary and adolescent literature, popular culture and English education.
