2020 Award Recipients

Awards Sponsored by CATESOL Education Foundation

Ron Lee Technology Award
Sponsored by the CATESOL Education Foundation
Recipient: ​Kazuya Shida, USC, International Academy
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Kazuya Shida holds a Master’s Degree from CSUSB and has been teaching ESL and Japanese for over ten years at universities and private language programs. His work focuses on innovative use of technology in language acquisition and pedagogy. Currently, he is developing new teaching methods to provide an immersive language learning experience online. He envisions a new educational model that is responsive to societal trends. 
David E. Eskey Memorial Award, Year 1
Sponsored by the CATESOL Education Foundation
Recipient: ​Undarmaa Maamuujav, UC Irvine
Undarmaa (Undraa) Maamuujav is a Ph.D. student in the University of California, Irvine with a specialization in Teaching, Learning, and Educational Improvement. Undraa's research focuses on second language writing development and pedagogy and incorporating effective methods, tools, and technology into L2 writing curriculum. Her work has been published in CATESOL Journal, TESOL Journal, and TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching.

Video links:
David E. Eskey Memorial Award, Year 2
Sponsored by the CATESOL Education Foundation
Recipient: ​Nicole Brun-Mercer, UC Berkeley
Nicole Brun-Mercer holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. She has taught English in the United States, Switzerland, France, Russia, and Guinea, and she is now working in Berkeley, California. Currently the CATESOL Material Writers Interest Group Coordinator, she has published and presented professionally on corpus linguistics, lexicogrammar, reading, and composition.
Gail Weinstein Recognition Award
Sponsored by CAESOL Education Foundation
Recipient: ​Neda Sahranavard, Ph.D., UCI, Saddleback College, Irvine Valley College
Neda Sahranavard, PhD, is a lecturer and academic coordinator at the University of California, Irvine, Program in Academic English, and an adjunct faculty at South Orange County Community College District. She has a PhD in English language and literature and has worked with multilingual students for more than 17 years. Dr. Sahranavard is also the 2020 TESOL Teacher of the Year.

Watch Neda Sahranavard's thank you video here.
Gordon Johnson Memorial Award
Sponsored by CATESOL Education Foundation
Recipient: Lena Nelson, Mt. San Jacinto College, Adult Education
Lena Nelson is an ESL instructor at Mt. San Jacinto College. She holds an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from University of Massachusetts, Boston. Lena has also taught ESL at UC Riverside IEP as well as at Loma Linda University’s Extended Campus Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She is a regular presenter at professional development events at MSJC and Southwest Riverside County Adult Education Regional Consortium.

CATESOL Level Student Awards

Community College Level Student Essay Contest
Sponsored by Townsend Press
Recipient: ​Zahra Abbasi, Santa Ana College, School of Continuing Education
We are new immigrants and we are living here for almost 5 years. During this time, I went to the school and got my diploma, 4 certificates about insurance and front office. Last semester, I decided to continue my education then I registered in Santa Ana College. My major is Nutrition and dietetics. I have a daughter and she is 16 years old. I believe this award is a good chance for me, and I'm very happy about that. I'm 53 years old.

Watch Zahra Abbasi's self-intro video in English and Farsi.