The Omicron Kappa Upsilon – Stephen H. Leeper Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes dental educators who have demonstrated exemplary standards in dental pedagogy. This periodic award provides a highly visible venue to honor individuals who have implemented innovative techniques or exhibited consistent excellence in dental education.

The goal of the award is to recognize individuals who have demonstrated vision and contributed significantly to the advancement of dental education. Specifically, the award will formally honor individuals who have implemented original and creative methods of educating and engrossing students, faculty, and administrators. This award will be used to illustrate models of outstanding dental education, thus challenging others to strive for excellence and innovation in dental education.

The recipient will receive a certificate of award and other expressions of recognition. In addition travel arrangements to the annual meeting of the Supreme Chapter for the recipient of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon-Stephen H. Leeper Award for Teaching Excellence shall include round trip Supersaver airfare and one (1) night hotel stay at ADEA convention rates.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants who are full-time dental educators at American Dental Association's CODA accredited institutions. Applicants are to be OKU members with at least seven years of teaching experience.

• Letters of solicitation will be distributed to Deans of all dental schools approved by the ADA's Commission of Dental Accreditation.
• Each school will develop its own nominating process. A nominee must be approved by both the Dean of the dental school and the President of the school’s OKU chapter.
• A letter of recommendation and support from the Dean and President should include:
  1. Specific activities that the nominee has implemented that demonstrate innovation in teaching
  2. How this teaching has impacted dental education at their institution
  3. Contributions made to the dental education community through presentations, exhibits, and publications demonstrating teaching/curricula innovations
  4. A list of accomplishments detailing the significance of the contributions
  5. A 2 page curriculum vitae

Applications will be forwarded to the selection committee by December 1 of the year prior to that particular OKU Supreme Chapter Annual Business Meeting.

The selection committee for the award will be comprised of the Vice President of the Supreme Chapter of OKU (chair) and the 3 most recent past recipients of the Stephen H. Leeper Award.

The selection committee will make its decision by January 1 of the year of that OKU Supreme Chapter Annual Business Meeting.

The award will be presented at the OKU Annual Business Meeting.

Past Recipients

1998: Dr. Paul Desjardins - (Omega Omega Chapter-University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey)
1999: Dr. Frank Dowd - (Epsilon Chapter-Creighton University)
2000: Dr. Herbert Schillingburg Jr. - (Omicron Pi Chapter-University of Oklahoma)
2001: Dr. Stuart C. White - (Epsilon Zeta Chapter-University of California-Los Angeles)
2002: Dr. Karen Crews - (Rho Sigma Chapter-University of Mississippi)
2003: Dr. Thomas D. Marshall - (Mu Nu Chapter-University of Texas at San Antonio)
2004: Dr. Kenneth I. Knowles - (Epsilon Chapter-Creighton University)
2005: Dr. Martin F. Land - (Nu Xi Chapter-Southern Illinois University)
2006: Dr. Michael Glick - (Omega Omega Chapter-University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey)
2007: Dr. Donald E. Willmann - (Mu Nu Chapter-University of Texas Health Science at San Antonio)
2008: Dr. Stanton Harn - (Alpha Alpha Chapter-University of Nebraska College of Dentistry)
2009: Dr. Aldridge D. Wilder Jr. - (Upsilon Upsilon Chapter-University of North Carolina)
2010: Dr. Allan J. Kucine - (Sigma Tau Chapter-State University of New York at Stony Brook)