The best professors in Iowa State’s College of Engineering, as determined by engineering students, will have their teaching efforts recognized at a banquet Wednesday night.

A professor from each of the 13 engineering departments and nuclear engineering has been selected by the students for an outstanding professor award. All engineering students, regardless of their specific major, could vote for any professor in the college over a two day period. The votes were then separated out by department and the winners determined.

“I think it is a really good thing. This event honors good professors,” said Erick Molstad, a junior in metallurgical engineering and special events chair for the Engineering Student Council Executive Committee.

“These awards show the professors that their teaching efforts are appreciated,” said Alexia Bellinghausen, a senior in aerospace engineering and president of the council.

Two of the professors being honored have similar feelings.

“Student awards mean more to me than other awards,” said Francis Kayser, a metallurgical engineering professor.

“I am pleased to have been selected. It’s very rewarding to know that the students recognize the effort we put into teaching,” said Kristen Constant, an assistant professor in ceramic engineering.

Molstad said the student vote is a big improvement over how the award recipients used to be selected.

“Five or six years ago, the department chose the professors, and that misrepresented the students,” he said.

Kayser agreed, calling the old voting procedure “backscratching,” in which the engineering professors voted for one another.

“I have great faith in the students’ ability to make value judgments,” Kayser said.

Kayser added that while generally the same professors are selected every year, some of the selections are surprising.

“Those selected tend to be the hardest graders,” he said.

But according to Molstad, only an estimated 4.5 percent of eligible students voted in the election.

“Nobody takes the time to vote,” Molstad said. “But for the students who care, especially the upper-class students, it is important.”

Constant also feels that the low turnout does not diminish the awards’ significance.

“Apparently, those with strong feelings voted,” she said.

The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday night in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center. The program includes guest speaker mechanical engineering Professor Judy Vance and a virtual reality demonstration.