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Instructure's 2025 Academic Excellence Awards: A Celebration of Educators

In a significant step to honor the essential role of educators worldwide, Instructure, the renowned creator of the Canvas LMS, recently announced the recipients of its first Academic Excellence Awards. This new initiative acknowledges exceptional educators and transformative programs that have made remarkable impacts on teaching, learning, and educational innovation globally.

Recognizing Excellence in Education

The Academic Excellence Awards serve as a hallmark of Instructure's dedication to supporting educators throughout the globe. With various categories such as Outstanding Course, Transformative Program, and Innovative Tool, these awards highlight educators whose efforts have revolutionized learning experiences. This rigorous selection process involved a thorough review of submissions from numerous nominees across diverse educational institutions and disciplines.

Categories of Recognition

1. Outstanding Course: This award celebrates instructional designs that demonstrate clear learning outcomes and engaging content delivery.
2. Transformative Program: This category recognizes initiatives that tangibly enhance educational practices and outcomes within institutions or local communities.
3. Innovative Tool: This award honors technologies or resources that significantly improve teaching and learning experiences.

The winners were selected on the basis of creativity, measurable outcomes, and their overall influence on student achievement. Each first-place recipient received an invitation to attend InstructureCon 2025, which will not only recognize their hard work and dedication but also offer networking opportunities with fellow educators and industry leaders.

Celebrating the Winners

The inaugural winners span various fields and show the amazing innovations taking place within education. Here’s a brief overview of the remarkable achievements:

Innovative Tool Award Winner

• - Prof. Volodymyr Kindratenko from the University of Illinois: As the first-place honoree in the Innovative Tool category, Prof. Kindratenko has introduced a system enabling instructors to create AI-based teaching assistants, thus enhancing student engagement and understanding profoundly.

Transformative Program Award Winner

• - Peggy Moore from the University of Nebraska Medical Center: The Transformative Program Award went to Moore for her leadership in uBEATS, a nationwide initiative that has provided free, essential science and health education to over 95,000 students while paving the way for future healthcare professionals.

Outstanding Course Award Winner

• - Mark Rosenbaum, PhD, from the Baker School of Business at The Citadel: Awarded for his Outstanding Course, Dr. Rosenbaum integrates AI in his marketing classes, empowering students with the latest tools and knowledge for success in today's dynamic marketplace.

Together, these winners reflect the inspiring and transformative work being done in education today. They encourage the next generation of learners to reach for ambitious dreams and elevate their aspirations through innovative educational practices.

A Broader Impact

Melissa Loble, Instructure's Chief Academic Officer, expressed immense pride in this year's recipients, stating, "We are truly inspired by the dedication and innovation demonstrated by this year's award recipients. Celebrating educators has become a vital aspect of our mission and influences our product development and service delivery universally."

In recognizing these outstanding achievements, Instructure not only celebrates individual contributions but also elevates the discourse around teaching and learning worldwide. As educators continue to innovate, the impact of their work reinforces the critical role of education in shaping a brighter future for students everywhere.

As the new academic year unfolds, Instructure remains committed to empowering educators and enhancing the learning experience through innovative technologies and community support, ensuring that every learner has the tools necessary to succeed.