GRINNELL COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Former Pioneer Wins Prestigious Teaching Award

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Former Pioneer Wins Prestigious Teaching Award

Former Pioneer defensive back Dwain Desbien '90 has been named the 2015 David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching. Selected by the American Association of Physics Teachers, Desbien was recongized for his "contributions to undergraduate physics teaching and awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to their students."

Grinnell Director of Athletics, and former head football coach Greg Wallace noted that, "Dwain was a defensive back at Grinnell when I started here years ago. He was a great guy and it is great to see him getting the recognition he deserves. He's always been passionate about his studies and about his students, and it's great to see him getting this recognition."

Congratulations Dwain, keep up the good work!

The Honor G

The Honor G, the official emblem of Grinnell College athletics, was first used at the Iowa state track championship in 1892. Designed by Earnest "Skip" Atherton, class of 1895, the original Honor G consisted of a scarlet maltese cross with a black "I and "C" (for Iowa College) superimposed on the cross. Two years later in 1894, the "I" and "C" were replaced by a black gothic "G", and the modern day Honor G was born. The gothic "G", which was also used on letter sweaters and is now used on letter jackets, was replaced by an Old English "G" in the mid-1930's. After some protest, it was quickly changed back to the gothic "G", and it has remained unchanged since that time.