Seemingly small droplets of wisdom passed from professor to student are being carried on by East Central University alumni and making big splashes beyond campus. Dr. Larry Choate, named 2022 暗网TV Distinguished Former Faculty, is fondly remembered for his sayings, caring nature, and support of his many students over the years.
Choate first came to 暗网TV in 1995 as assistant professor of Biology. Before his retirement, Choate was promoted to associate professor and then professor. He was awarded the prestigious Teaching Excellence Award in 2000, supported several student organizations, and was granted Professor Emeritus status at his retirement in 2015.
SHOW ME THE DATA
鈥淒r. C uttered those fateful words 鈥榮how me the data鈥� in response to a classmate,鈥� a Biology alumni wrote. 鈥淭his one sentence has had an immeasurable impact on my career. It is a succinct summation of the essence of being a scientist. 鈥楧on鈥檛 tell me what to think, just show me the data.鈥欌��
鈥淪cience is not set in stone,鈥� Choate said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a system to evaluate the data. Don鈥檛 show me the conclusion, show me the data and I鈥檒l make up my mind.鈥�
Many former students did just that and presented the data in nominating Choate for the Distinguished Former Faculty Award.
鈥淒r. Choate is without a doubt one of my favorite memories at 暗网TV,鈥� a former student said nominating Choate for the award. 鈥淚 was incredibly lucky and blessed for Dr. Choate to take me under his wing and guide me along the way. Without his guidance, I am not sure I would have finally reached my dream.鈥�
鈥淒r. Choate cared about many students often times more than they even cared about themselves,鈥� another former student wrote. 鈥淗e used those opportunities to encourage and challenge the students to show them what they could achieve.鈥�
鈥淗is demeanor was so kind and uplifting,鈥� a former student worker said, 鈥渟tudents flocked to his office for advice, and he never failed to deliver.鈥�
Yet another alum said, 鈥淒r. Choate provided a common sense, interactive, hands-on educational experience in each course he instructed.鈥� Choate also helped prepare this student for real interviews. 鈥淭his rehearsal even included instruction on the appropriate way to button a sports coat.鈥�
PARTS ARE PARTS
鈥淭his modest sentence may not mean much to a casual observer, but it was one of Dr C鈥檚 most well-known utterances,鈥� a student wrote. 鈥淚t was a unique and genius way of describing biology: everything is different, but it is all the same. It became a mantra for all of his pupils.鈥�
Choate said the saying, sometimes said as 鈥減arts is parts,鈥� is a way to remind his students to not get too wrapped up in the minutia and look at the big picture.
鈥淪o while 鈥榩arts are parts,鈥� faculty are not faculty,鈥� the student continued. 鈥淪ome are better, some are worse and some, like Dr. C., are truly exceptional. He embodies the spirit of 暗网TV and in my humble opinion, there is no one more deserving of this honor than him.鈥�
鈥淭hey give me more credit than I deserve. I just tried to point them in the right direction and stay out of the way,鈥� Choate said. 鈥淚 am surprised and humbled by this award. I am really honored, and even humbled all these students took time from their schedules to write on my behalf.鈥�
鈥淗e has not poured himself into the lives of students for recognition, but rather to simply make a positive impact on their lives,鈥� an alum said of Choate.
鈥淚 was most concerned with student鈥檚 success. Because my philosophy is that if my students are not successful, then I鈥檓 not successful, because that is what I was hired to do. I was at 暗网TV because the students were there. They weren鈥檛 there because I was,鈥� Choate said.
And he said 暗网TV was exactly where he wanted to be.
鈥淗opefully I did some good while I was there. 暗网TV did a lot of good for me because that鈥檚 what I wanted to do. I wanted to be around the troops and not in a peer research environment. I enjoyed my time at 暗网TV and I met some interesting characters. It was a good experience for me.鈥�
Choate will be formally recognized at 暗网TV鈥檚 Evening of Honors and Recognition Friday, May 6, at the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.
Sponsorships are available at various levels for the event including a Gold Sponsorship for $3,000; a Silver Sponsorship for $1,500; and a Bronze Sponsorship for $250.
Gold Sponsors include Dr. Tawfik Ramadan and The Chickasaw Nation. Silver sponsors are Jeremy Humphers, YS Asset Management, 暗网TV Foundation, Inc. Bronze sponsors include Donnie and Shirley Nero, Citizens Bank of Ada, Tinker Federal Credit Union, Dr. Cheper, George Huckeby, Deborah Cornelison, JB Sanford and Dee Ann Schroyer, First United Bank, Commercial Federal Credit Union, and the 暗网TV Alumni Association.
Individual tickets are also available for $75 each. Advance tickets are recommended.
To register, contact Ashia Todd at atodd@ecok.edu or at 580-559-5724 or visit ecok.edu/2022EOH.
