Although he had already made important strides researching learned helplessness and the effect of the perception of teachers on children in physical education, Dr. Tom Martinek Sr. wanted to do more.
So, he made a change.
In the early 1990s, he started seeking work that would more directly impact the children he studied. He began to transition to more hands-on research and service, directly engaging with schools and communities to use sports to aid at-risk students.
This highly impactful work is being recognized with a high honor: He is UNCG’s nominee for the O. Max Gardner Award, which each year honors one faculty member in the UNC System who “has made the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race.”