Dr. Walter H. Schacht

2011 Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher

The Range Science Education Council and the Society for Range Management proudly present the 2011 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award to Dr. Walter H. Schacht of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  The outstanding teaching award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, advising and mentoring over an extended period, often a career.

Dr. Schacht has excelled as a teacher, advisor, and mentor to undergraduate students for over 20 years.  The list of courses he has taught demonstrates the breadth of his expertise, ranging from Introduction to Soils to a variety of rangeland management courses.  He was responsible for the development of several of these courses, including a study abroad course on Tropical Ecosystems.  Dr. Schacht was also instrumental in development of 3 new range-related majors or options at UNL, including the Grazing Livestock Systems major. He has been the lead PI and co-PI on 4 grants aimed at improving rangeland education and has co-authored 4 articles in peer reviewed teaching journals.  Dr. Schacht advised the Range Management Club and coached the Plant ID team at Angelo State for 3 years and, for the last 17 years, advised the Range Management Club and coached the Undergraduate Range Management Exam team at UNL.

Dr. Schacht is well known as an educator who is committed to students.  He is passionate about rangeland science and management, and that enthusiasm rubs off on the students that he teaches and mentors.  Students described his availability, openness, involvement, dedication, and genuine interest in each student as characteristics that had a profound effect on them during and after their undergraduate programs.  Students also appreciated his extensive knowledge about the subjects he teaches and his ability to provide a rich, lively learning environment.

For exemplary dedication to achieving excellence in teaching and advising, the Range Science Education Council and the Society for Range Management are pleased to present Dr. Walter H. Schacht with the 2011 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award.