Undergraduate Council President ROHIT CHOPRA ’04 gives Mathematics preceptor DALE WINTER the Levenson Memorial Teaching Award at a celebratory dinner in Eliot House dining hall Wednesday night.

The Undergraduate Council recognized exceptional teachers Wednesday night at its 21st annual Levenson Memorial Teaching Awards banquet, held in Eliot House dining hall.

Three winners were selected from over 200 nominees by the council’s Student Affairs Committee (SAC): Maier Professor of Political Economy Benjamin M. Friedman ’66, Mathematics preceptor Dale Winter and teaching fellow in history and literature Zahr K. Said.

SAC Chair Matthew W. Mahan ’05, whose remarks opened the presentation, said the number of nominees was unprecedented.

The winners were also overwhelmed.

“I’m so blown away,” Said said upon receiving her award. “I can’t believe I’m crying, it’s so corny.”

Several of Said’s students at the banquet praised her enthusiasm and said she worked tirelessly as a thesis advisor.

“We always look forward to going to tutorial,” said Steven N. Jacobs ’05, who is also a Crimson editor.

Winter, who teaches introductory calculus, was surrounded at his table by admiring students.

Those who nominated Winter wrote that he memorized every student’s name—about 100 of them—within the first two weeks of class.

Winter said he was “just elated” upon receiving the prize.

“But even if there’s no award at the end, the investment in these guys, that’s the real award,” he added.

Chelsea S. Simmons ’06, who came to the banquet to support Winter, called him “the most amazing guy ever.”

“He knows everything about everything. His energy is infectious,” she said.

Friedman, said he was “absolutely delighted” with his award.

Amanda E. Kowalski ’03 praised Friedman’s accessibility, saying he encourages students to work with him personally.