SOMERS — And the winner is ... the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Theatre Arts Department.

The department will be presented the UW System Board of Regents 2009 Regents Teaching Excellence Award Dec. 11 in Madison.

It is the first time a fine arts department has won the honor since the inception of the award in 1992.

The campus nominated the department in 2007, and the department was runner-up in 2008. The third time apparently was the charm as regents considered nominations from the 13 four-year universities and 13 two-year colleges comprising the UW System.

“We’re really honored to receive it,” said Dean Yohnk, department chairman and artistic director. “Each campus is allowed to nominate one department per year.

“When you consider going up against 25 other outstanding programs from the other campuses, to be selected the winner makes it really exciting for us.

“The others are almost all science programs that bring in a lot of money — really high-caliber programs. People don’t usually consider fine arts a curricular program. So, to be the first fine arts program selected makes it really special for us,” he added.

The award recognized the Parkside program for “exceptional commitment to teaching and learning ... impressive dedication of the department and the ability of its members to inspire in students an enthusiasm for learning both in and beyond the classroom.”

Yohnk thanked Parkside faculty, staff and students for nominating the department, which has seen rising ACT scores among students applying for admission.

Other program accomplishments:

— Student retention rates around 90 percent.

— Improved community outreach.

— New diversity courses added to the curriculum.

— High graduation rates.

— Program graduates realizing career success.

He said the award demonstrates strong, campuswide commitment to excellence.

“This is not only an award to the Theatre Arts Department; it’s a reminder that there’s academic excellence at UW-Parkside,” Yohnk said. “There are really strong academic program at Parkside — programs that are challenging, that are very developed, that are very successful in terms of student graduation rates and placements in careers.”

Two UW-Parkside professors previously received individual teaching excellence awards, English professor Carole Vopat in 2003 and English senior lecturer Patrick McGuire in 1999.

The award includes a $5,000 prize, which Yohnk said the department will use to bring in guest artists to work with students and for professional development activities among faculty members.

“So, it just helps us continue to draw some of the best and brightest students,” Yohnk said. “Our goal is to draw students who are academically and artistically talented.

“We’ve already been recognized for artistic exellence. This recognizes us for teaching excellence, which connects to students’ academic growth.”