TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS

Lethbridge College Faculty Association is now Lethbridge Polytechnic Faculty Association

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Lethbridge College Faculty Association is now Lethbridge Polytechnic Faculty Association * * *

 Teaching Excellence at Lethbridge Polytechnic

Each year, the Lethbridge Polytechnic Faculty Association (LPFA) and the Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association (LPSA) partner to recognize outstanding instructors at our institution. Students nominate instructors they feel deserve recognition for their impact in the classroom.

This year, a total of 198 nominations were submitted from across the college. From those, two instructors were selected as this year’s award recipients.

The awards are:

Rookie of the Year
Presented to a first-year instructor who demonstrates excellence in teaching.
Recipient: Rylan Spenrath

Teaching Excellence
Presented to an experienced instructor who consistently demonstrates excellence in teaching.
Recipient: Nichole Fox

Rylan Spenrath

Rylan Spenrath grew up in the nearby town of Taber and completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at the University of Lethbridge. His family was involved in education, which started as a deterrent to a career in teaching. However, after he began coaching badminton, Rylan could see past the workload of his parents and found a passion for teaching in general. Rylan would continue coaching badminton to the present day while working towards a position teaching English at the post-secondary level. After finishing a BA, Rylan began working in the Learning Café, left to complete his MA, and, luckily, ended up back in the Café. After many years working with students one-on-one, Rylan was able to move back into the classroom teaching English Composition in CBAS. By leveraging his experience from coaching and working with students here at the Polytechnic, Rylan tries to meet students where they are at and provide practical, hands-on education with an emphasis on application and critical thinking.

Nichole Fox

Nichole Fox began teaching at Lethbridge Polytechnic in 2015, returning to the institution where her own academic and professional journey began. A proud alumna of the Criminal Justice Diploma – Policing program, graduating with Honours in December 2000, Nichole reflects fondly on her time as a student. The encouragement and mentorship she received from her instructors played a pivotal role in her success, helping her launch a career in law enforcement that began with recruit training for the Lethbridge Police Service just one month after graduation.

 Now, as a faculty member teaching in the Natural Resource Compliance Diploma and the Conservation Enforcement degree programs, Nichole describes her role as a dream realized. With a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, she brings a unique and powerful combination of academic expertise and real-world experience to her teaching—bridging her two passions: law and interpersonal communication. Her courses emphasize essential skills such as crisis intervention, verbal judo, and conflict de-escalation—tools that are critical for success in law enforcement and public safety professions.

 Central to Nichole’s teaching philosophy is a holistic, student-centered approach. She believes in supporting students not only academically but as whole people, recognizing that their development extends far beyond the classroom. She often encourages her students to "Jungle Tiger"—a metaphor for stepping outside of one’s comfort zone to build resilience and confidence. Through this approach, she helps students cultivate self-belief, emotional intelligence, and personal well-being, often modeling the self-care strategies she advocates.

 For Nichole, the most rewarding part of teaching is the opportunity to offer students the same level of support and encouragement that she once received. Watching their goals take shape and seeing them grow into confident, capable professionals gives deep meaning to her work. The strong relationships she builds with students often continue long after they leave her classroom, with many reaching out to share news of job offers, seasonal placements, and full-time employment. These moments serve as powerful reminders of the lasting impact of education grounded in care, connection, and authenticity.

 Nichole is deeply honoured to have been nominated and selected for this award. The heartfelt stories shared by her students about how her mentorship shaped their journeys affirm the value of her work and her unwavering commitment to student success. Her journey at Lethbridge Polytechnic has come full circle—from student to faculty—and her impact continues to resonate through the lives and careers of those she teaches.