Meghann Rise

Dedication to his job and to his students are only a few of the reasons SDSU associate professor Patrick Pannell was honored as Outstanding Educator of the Year for 2008 on Jan. 21.

Pannell was given the award at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas by the National Association of Home Builders.

The award is determined by the candidates’ skills in teaching, as well as involvement in his or her profession and with students.

When Pannell found out he was nominated, he was caught off guard.

“I never knew I was nominated until I was told that I had been selected,” Pannell said. “I was absolutely floored.”

Pannell was nominated by students and fellow faculty. Senior Construction Management major, Brian Vanorny, knew Pannell would be a great candidate for the award, and he was the first person to initiate the nomination.

Vanorny nominated Pannell for “his dedication to his job, which includes the students, his courses, the Construction Management Club and the whole Construction Management program.

“I rate him 10 out of 10,” Vanorny said. “He does much more than his scope of work as a professor and program coordinator. He goes out of his way to make sure that all the students succeed and leave SDSU with an experience and an education.”

Along with teaching and coordinating the department of construction management, Pannell consults with the management of various construction companies to handle personnel, financial and marketing issues. Pannell is also a witness to construction matters when the legal community needs it.

“I was so proud of the students and faculty for taking the opportunity to bring this honor to SDSU,” Pannell said. “This shows the academic world of construction education that we stand with the best. Even though we are small in enrollment, we are large in quality.”

#1.881899:2187207433.jpg:Patt Pannel.jpg:Associate Professor Patrick Pannell received an award for his dedication to his students and the Construction Management Program at SDSU.:Pavan Kulkarni