What: The $30,000 UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement will be announced to students in the winner's undergraduate lecture class. Believed to be the largest individual annual award of its kind in the nation, the prize pays tribute to faculty members on campus who combine outstanding undergraduate teaching with remarkable scholarly achievements. It was established by the UC Davis Foundation through gifts from the Davis Chancellor's Club Fellows. The award was increased this year from $25,000. When: Friday, April 19 11 a.m., class begins 11:30 a.m., class interrupted for prize announcement Where: Kleiber Hall, UC Davis Visuals: This professor conducts an active class, engaging students with music, current events, slides and lots of class participation. The class will feature many of the award-winning teaching techniques before it is interrupted with the award announcement and a celebratory cake. The professor be available for interviews after the announcement. Just before 11 a.m., students will fill up the 240-seat lecture hall to the music of Grofé's "Grand Canyon Suite." It sets the mood for learning about geological time and how geologists unravel the history of places like the Grand Canyon. The class begins with the professor reading a few stories from the daily newspaper that relate to class topics. At one point, the entire class will act out radioactive decay, a way geologists measure time. Student "I think he is a great teacher," comments a student from last year's Comments: Geology 1 class. "I had a course from him before, and that was my sole reason for taking this course." A student from another class writes, "The enthusiasm of the professor is exceptional. Class is exciting; it is never boring." Parking and From Sacramento, take Interstate 80 westbound to the Highway Directions: 113 exit and head north to Woodland. Take the Hutchison Drive exit, and head east (right). Continue through the light. At the stop sign, turn left. Continue past the construction site and the police and fire departments. Park along the road behind Kleiber Hall (not in the red zone) or in lot 26 (on your left). Reporters may park in most places for free. If your vehicle is unmarked, place a business card on the driver's side of the dashboard.