Students took time out from reading period review sessions last night to honor their teachers at the 1999 Levenson Memorial Teaching Awards, sponsored by the Undergraduate Council.

Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and Leverett House Master Howard Georgi '68 received the Senior Faculty award.

The Junior Faculty award went to Assistant Professor of Mathematics Michael J. Nakamaye, and Cabot House English Tutor Susan E. Phillips received the award for teaching fellows (TFs).

Students and award nominees filled Eliot House dining hall to honor the teachers who Council President Noah Z. Seton '00 said "make up the heart and soul and core of this College."

"Students participate in a wide array of activities...but at the heart of what they do here is to learn from great teachers," Seton said in his opening remarks.

At a reception before the award dinner, students raved about the professors and TFs they nominated, talking enthusiastically about extended office hours, enjoyable sections and even home-baked cookies.

Myung H. Joh '02 said she nominated Patrick O'Malley, her TF for English 20, "The English Novel," because of the effort he made to reach out to students.

"I felt like I was in a real class again, not just sitting in a section with a bunch of anonymous people," she said.

"A lot of TFs are brilliant, obviously, but not all are so good at teaching," she added.

Council member Justin A. Barkley '02 presented Phillips with her award, saying "the difference between a good class and a bad class is often the teaching fellow."

Barkley said her students claim that she "made the dreadful prospect of the pre-1800 requirement for English concentrators a true joy."

"She's not only a wonderful TF, she's also very understanding," said Kelly A. Kinneen '99, one of Phillips' nominators. "She's a phenomenal, phenomenal person."

Nakamaye received equally laudatory remarks from his students, one of whom wrote, "I actually look forward to the 7 to 10 a.m. cram sessions before finals...Mike won't leave until every- -one's questions are answered."

Paul A. Gusmorino '02 introduced Georgi, quoting students who called him "the most caring senior Faculty member anyone has ever conceived of and [one of] the most dedicated teachers among senior Faculty anywhere."

"He is always making an effort to reach out to students, be it through barbecues, baking cookies for his class, [or] taking the department Christmas caroling," another nomination read.

But the teachers were low-key about what students described as extraordinary efforts.

Levenson nominee and Henderson Professor of the Psychology of Personality Brendan A. Maher said he fostered relationships with his students simply by being accessible.

"As a professor here, you're at the risk of taking yourself very seriously," he said.

"I try to avoid that," he added.

The awards were created to honor the memory of the late history professor Joseph R. Levenson '41. Professors and TFs are nominated by students, and award winners are selected by the council's student affairs committee