Piper nominee William Hoston will represent UHCL at state
Laura Figueroa
The Signal
UHCL announced this year’s nominee for the Piper Award for the 2012 academic year is William Hoston, assistant professor of political science and program covener.
The Piper Award, established in 1958 by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation is based out of San Antonio. This award recognizes outstanding professors across Texas.
The purpose of the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation is to assist men and women in Texas who wish to complete their education and obtain a degree. Minnie Stevens Piper and her husband Randall Gordon Piper were the principal donors.
The Piper Award recognizes and honors 10 professors each academic year from universities and colleges across the state. Two- and four-year college and universities submit one nominee for consideration for the Piper Award recognizing outstanding dedication to the teaching profession.
The UHCL Piper Award committee reviews the nominations received from September through October submitted by students and faculty.
After the committee reviews the nominations, the top 5 nominees are selected based on the number of nominations received and their ratio of credit hours taught.
“The Piper Award committee requests that each of the top five faculty members submit the official award nomination form along with a notebook with supporting documents that supports their contributions to the university including teaching, service and research,” said Lindsey Fulton, student services coordinator. “Upon receipt of this documentation, the committee meets to review the notebooks and make a subjective decision for the finalist based on the information submitted.”
Once the finalist is selected, he or she must submit the proper documentation to the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.
The winner of the Piper Award receives a certificate of merit, a gold pin and a $5,000 award. But the nomination alone is rewarding to UHCL’s professor Hoston.
“To be nominated by the students is the greatest part of the award,” Hoston said. “It is a humbling feeling when you know you have made a difference in another individual’s life. I thank them dearly.”
Hoston received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of New Orleans in 2007 and has been a faculty member at UHCL since 2009.
He is the author of “Listen to Me Now or Listen to Me Later: A Memoir of Academic Success for College Students,” and has been published in numerous academic publications.
Hoston has also presented to numerous audiences through conferences, seminars, and workshops, as well as at various colleges and universities.
Hoston also served as a senior airman with the Louisiana Air National Guard. He received an honorable discharge in 2002.
“It is my firm belief that the ultimate gratification is making a difference in students’ lives.” Hoston said. “The goals I have as a professor are threefold: (1) I want to inspire my students to become better social scientists, (2) To become life-long learners of any capacity, and (3) strive to become better human beings.”
Comments provided by the students who nominated Hoston for the Piper Award indicate how students feel about Hoston and his teaching methods.
One comment read, “This professor cares so deeply and is passionate about motivating and encouraging students to attain success further than what they could have ever imagined.”
Another read, “It is an honor to have been taught by this excellent professor and successful writer.”
One student wrote, “He is truly inspiring and I hope to impact others one day the way he has impacted my life.”
“I am extremely happy about this nomination.” Hoston said. “It is a tremendous honor and will rank with the highest awards I have received. For the past two years I was excited to be a finalist, I am overjoyed to be the university nominee.”
With great mentors, hard work, determination and dedication, Hoston is this year’s UHCL finalist to compete for the Piper Award.
“I come from a family of educators, my late grandmother, Mildred Hoston, and godmother, Thelma C. Owens; this is a dedication to them,” Hoston said. “Also, you can’t win an award like this without the support of administrators and faculty. Three people were very influential in mentoring me: Drs. Robert Bartsch, Everette Penn and Steve Egger.”
“Dr. Hoston is an amazing, dedicated teacher,” said Robert Bartsch, associate professor of Psychology and covener for Behavioral Science. “He is passionate about students learning and growing, and his students know it. He wants them to succeed and makes them work so that they can.”
“He is an asset to our Department, School and the University of Houston- Clear Lake,” said Everette Penn, division chair of Behavioral Science and Social Sciences.
Last year’s Piper award finalist Stuart Larson, associate professor of graphic design, participated on this year’s Piper Award Committee.
“What I look for in a professor is that spark, that combination of enthusiasm and dedication where we know there is nothing else this person would rather do than teach,” Larson said. “Although all of the finalists had this to some degree, Dr. Hoston’s enthusiasm leaped right off the page.”
Larson noted that Hoston has made a positive impact on many students’ lives; his passion for teaching and making a difference will have UHCL well represented at the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation competition.
“I just want to be an example,” Hoston said. “Many have come before me and, hopefully, those that come after will be inspired by the example that I have set.”
