One of Dr. Stillmaker’s greatest inspirations is her father, a Vietnam veteran who, despite facing financial challenges and limited parental support, earned his degree from Fresno State with encouragement from an English professor who wouldn’t let him give up.
His determination inspired her to pursue an education in engineering, ultimately leading her to become a professor herself.
“Through my father’s story, I saw how impactful a teacher’s actions can be, and how transformational a college degree can be for the trajectory of a family, and it really inspires me to be able to hopefully have that kind of impact on other people’s families and the story that they’re going to tell,” Stillmaker said.
Stillmaker, associate professor of civil engineering at Fresno State, was named one of the five recipients of this year’s California State University Wang Family Excellence Award.
The Wang Family Excellence Award recognizes four faculty members and one staff member from among the 23 California State University campuses for their outstanding commitment to student achievement and contributions in their respective fields. Each recipient receives a $20,000 award.
To read more, visit FresnoStateNews.com.
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