Jason Young, instructor in the School of Natural Resources, received the Golden Apple Award on Dec. 5, 2024, in a surprise ceremony led by Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, associate director of the School of Natural Resources and director of SNR undergraduate studies, Bryan Garton, senior associate dean and director of Academic Programs, and Amy Grus, SNR executive assistant.

To be eligible for the Golden Apple Award, professors must exhibit clarity, variability and enthusiasm. Faculty must be accessible to students, helpful, personable and act as a mentor. They should show how they provide opportunities for learning and should teach to the established objectives and expectations.

“As a practitioner, Jason demonstrates a command of his subject matter,” said award nominator Market. “He has an analytical approach to the material, but also understands that his students may have different learning styles and levels of comprehension. On a human level, Jason enjoys what he does, and it shows in his classroom and the students who learn from him develop the same kind of love and interest in the field. He often teaches large lectures but manages to command the pace and management of the space so that it seems very intimate; yet there is a level of individual attention given to every student. In a short amount of time Jason can make a large room of students feel very comfortable and settled in to listen and learn.”

In addition to teaching, Young provides students with resources and connections to help them get industry internships and prepares them for success by helping with their resumes, cover letters and interview skills.

“Jason helps students realize their full potential and reach their goals,” said Market. “That seems like a straightforward assessment, but it fails to capture the type of attention and in some cases, long-term relationships he cultivates with his students. For him teaching is very natural, and he will only continue to improve and grow into his place in the academic world.”