Hegarty Award Citation for Professor Rev. Richard Gribble, C.S.C.

The Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching is given each year to a full-time faculty member whose teaching has had a marked influence on the lives of Stonehill students. The Committee on Excellence in Teaching, representing the Students, Faculty, and the Alumni Council, selects the outstanding teacher from those nominated by students and faculty members. The recipient stands as a symbol of the entire faculty’s commitment to academic excellence. At this 2013 inauguration of President Denning, Stonehill College is proud to bestow the Hegarty Award on Professor Richard E. Gribble, C.S.C.

Professor Gribble’s commitment to Stonehill’s mission is abundantly clear in the words of those who nominated him. We will let them speak for themselves.

• Father Gribble is always exceptionally prepared for class, and willing to go above and beyond the expectations of a professor. He is always more than happy to meet with his students outside of class, and is incredibly helpful, kind, and insightful. He knows so much about what he teaches that it is impossible not to learn from and admire him. He is a tough professor, but fair. If a student makes the effort, Father Gribble will double that effort to help the student go further. He really inspires us all to want to learn.
• Father Gribble always encourages his students to try their best, and he makes the classroom a warm and welcoming place. I personally looked forward to each and every 8:30 AM religion class because I knew Father Gribble would be awake, upbeat, and ready to engage his students. I not only learned a lot about religion from him, but I became a better writer while in his course, and I also worked up the courage to speak out during class discussions.
• In class, Father Gribble makes everyone of all religions or backgrounds feel comfortable. He knows that we are mostly not theology students, so he treats the class accordingly. It is clear that any answer or opinion a student may have is perfectly okay! Father Gribble often says, “You can’t possibly be wrong.” It is comforting to know that your professor isn’t going to shut down your idea or make you feel wrong. Besides, who can’t love a priest who will shamelessly dance the Dougie for a good cause!
• Class was more than lectures and we were always involved in some interactive way whether it be discussions, debates, or presentations. When we were assigned papers, Father Gribble always gave us the option to give him a draft a week beforehand, but instead of just marking it up, he made time to meet with each student and discuss the paper one-on-one, which was extremely helpful. Overall, I feel that Father Gribble not only taught me what I needed to know for his class but opened my mind to new ideas and perceptions of the world.

  And so with deep pride we today recognize Professor Richard E. Gribble, C.S.C. for exemplifying Stonehill’s commitment to provide an education of the highest caliber that fosters critical thinking, free inquiry, and the interchange of ideas.

  Given this twentieth day of September,

  Two thousand and thirteen