{"id":151696,"date":"2026-03-24T10:05:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:05:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=151696"},"modified":"2026-03-25T12:26:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T16:26:18","slug":"ucf-chemistry-instructors-creative-approach-earns-excellence-in-online-teaching-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-chemistry-instructors-creative-approach-earns-excellence-in-online-teaching-award\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Chemistry Instructor\u2019s Creative Approach Earns Excellence in Online Teaching Award"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Nicole Lapeyrouse \u201916MS \u201918PhD<\/strong> never knows when and where she might be recognized. Students and their significant others who have never met her in person will come up to her in stores and along sidewalks to say, \u201cExcuse me, but aren\u2019t you \u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, it\u2019s her.<\/p>\n

The chemistry and geology instructor recently walked into a coffee shop on campus and heard the barista casually singing a familiar tune: Chemsi-Tea time, Ohh-Ohh-Ohh.<\/em> Flattered, Lapeyrouse said, \u201cThat\u2019s my jingle. You must be in my online course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Random encounters around the community make it clear that students are engaging with the videos Lapeyrouse produces for her classes. They learn about concepts like plate tectonics and viscosity, while also getting to know the person teaching it \u2014 she likes drinking tea, for example \u2014 and that\u2019s the point.<\/p>\n

\u201cI design the classes this way because I love doing it,\u201d Lapeyrouse says. \u201cBut most importantly, it\u2019s effective. That\u2019s the end goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Founder\u2019s Day, Lapeyrouse will be recognized in public again, this time by peers who have selected her to receive the Chuck D. Dziuban Award for excellence in online teaching. The award, in its 13th<\/sup> year, is named for UCF\u2019s first Pegasus Professor and an international pioneer in online learning. Dziuban will be presenting Lapeyrouse with the award at Founders Day, where he will also be honored for his 55 years of service to UCF.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a tremendous honor because Dr. Dziuban\u2019s name is synonymous with the pillars of good online teaching,\u201d she says. \u201cI heard about him when I was developing my first course. At that time, I wanted to do something different, but I had no idea where it would lead.\u201d<\/p>\n