Its been almost two months since Rochelle Epperson, a biology teacher at Mattoon High School, won the first Sigma Xi teaching excellence award and her co-workers still do not know about it. But to them, that is just the type of person she is.

On March 29, 2007, Epperson was awarded the Sigma Xi, EIU chapter’s award for teaching excellence in high school science and math at the Sigma Xi annual banquet. Jim McGaughey, a biology professor and member of Sigma Xi, nominated Epperson earlier this year for this award, and from all the people who know her no one deserves it more.

Sigma Xi is a national scientific research society that caters towards scientists, engineers and mathematicians, and focuses on research and study in a particular field. It is a highly selective group, made by invitation only and it is based on research that has been done by the group member, said Ann Fritz, secretary of Sigma Xi and biology professor at Eastern.

Sigma Xi, nationally founded in 1886, did not have a chapter at Eastern until 1998. Yet, it was not until November 2006, eight years later, that the idea of a teaching excellence award was brought up.

Fritz said that she heard about the award at a national meeting Sigma Xi had in November. She has been the secretary for at least two years and was a president at one time for the Eastern chapter, and still no one heard about it until November, Fritz said.

In January the formal discussion on the topic were held and nomination applications went out, said Betty Smith, Sigma Xi president and professor in the geology/geography department.

Some of the criteria for the nominations include: The letter of nomination made by a member of Sigma Xi, EIU chapter, and evidence that shows: excellence in teaching; active involvement in students critical thinking & problem solving; active involvement in students in the learning process; teaching appreciation for science & mathematics; and teaching science and/or mathematics at the high school level.

Epperson made a great impression on McGaughey when she took classes in the biology graduate program during summers at Eastern.

She made a real good impression on Fritz as well, since Fritz decided whom the winner was. Fritz said that one of the more memorable parts of Epperson’s nomination application was the quote she had comparing her students to the scientific process. Not long after reading that, Epperson got a phone call stating she won the award.

“I was so surprised, there are so many qualified teachers in the area, I didn’t think it would be me,” Epperson said.

Epperson has been a biology teacher for 25 years. She had won other awards in the area for her teaching, including: Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, 1998; Who’s Who in American Teachers, multiple years; Community Unit District #2 Recognition for Dedication to Teaching award, two years; and Excellence in Teaching awards from Eastern Illinois, 1990-97.

But to Epperson, it is not about the awards; it’s about getting students interested in science.

“I love nature and science and I just wanted to share those things with others,” Epperson said.

When she first started out teaching, it was not so easy for Epperson. She had trouble getting the hang out it.

“First started out I was busy keeping my head above water, but as time went on, I learned to really love the kids and work hard to gain their love too,” Epperson said.

Kristy Lawrence, a biology and zoology teacher at Mattoon High School, has worked with Epperson for 13 years and feels that Epperson is ” the best, one of the most innovated teachers that has been around. She single-handedly brought bio-technology to Mattoon High School.”

Lawrence said that not only do Epperson’s students love her and want to continually take her, but she is also teaching college level biology to the students.

“We took a group of students to Wash U to see their biology department, because it is suppose to be pretty impressive,” Lawrence recalls. “Their biology department did experiments and Shelly’s kids knew how to do them already.”

Although she said she is honored to have won the award, Epperson said that there are so many excellent teachers out there that do not get recognized and they need to be appreciated as well.

However, Fritz said that they were proud to have her as their first recipient for the award.

“She is full of energy and concern and care for the educational process as well as her students,” Fritz said. “Kids are lucky to have her as a high school biology teacher.”

Epperson was awarded a plague and a check for $200.