The 2025 Outstanding Teaching Awards: Jesús Ponte Bernal
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 8, 2025) — Jesús Ponte Bernal, a Ph.D. candidate and graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Hispanic Studies at the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, is one of nine winners to receive the University of Kentucky’s 2025 Outstanding Teaching Awards.
These awards identify and recognize individuals who demonstrate special dedication to student achievement and who are successful in their teaching. Recipients were selected via nomination and reviewed by a selection committee based in the UK Provost’s Office for Faculty Advancement and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT).
A native of Spain, Ponte Bernal’s academic journey has taken him from the University of Alicante, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, to the University of Alcalá de Henares for a master’s in teaching Spanish as a second language, and Auburn University, where he completed a Master of Arts. At UK, he has taught a wide range of Spanish courses — from introductory language classes to advanced offerings in translation and Spanish national cinema.
“I love teaching and helping my students to learn and use my language,” Ponte Bernal said. “So when I received this award, it meant a lot to me because my love and effort is being paid back. As a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Kentucky, this award is going to help boost my professional future connected to teaching in academia.”
Students describe Ponte Bernal as a kind and approachable instructor who creates an engaging, supportive learning environment.
“He was very kind, so I was never afraid to ask questions,” one student shared. “And he also pushed us to speak out loud, which helped me learn well.”
Faculty echo that praise, citing his professionalism and ability to communicate complex grammatical concepts clearly.
“Jesús has demonstrated excellence in instruction, pedagogical innovation and collegiality,” said Yanira B. Paz, Ph.D., nominator and chair of the department. “He is an exemplary candidate who embodies the spirit of this award.”
Ponte Bernal’s influence extends well beyond the classroom. He has served in multiple leadership roles, including president of Sigma Delta Pi and the Hispanic Graduate Student Association (HIGSA). Through Sigma Delta Pi, he secured funding to purchase iPads used by graduate student tutors during UK’s weekly “La Mesa de Español” tutoring sessions. As HIGSA president, he helped facilitate communication between teaching assistants and departmental leadership and contributed to the development of an online repository of supplemental language resources, including films, music and podcasts.
In 2023, Ponte Bernal received the UK College of Arts and Sciences Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Teaching Assistant. He was also invited to co-present at the 2021 Kentucky World Language Association Conference — an opportunity that further underscored his growing impact on language instruction and pedagogy.
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This year’s Outstanding Teaching Awards were given to six faculty and three graduate teaching assistants. Each winner received an award certificate, a commemorative engraved gift and a cash award in recognition of their teaching excellence at a campus ceremony on May 1. Read more here.
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