YSU economics lecturer honored with Blackboard Exemplary Course Award

Sarah Jenyk, senior lecturer of economics in Youngstown State University’s Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance, has received a Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Award, recognizing her ECON 1505 Personal Financial Literacy course for excellence in course design, student engagement and instructional quality.

The Blackboard Exemplary Course Program recognizes faculty members and course designers from schools, colleges and universities worldwide who develop innovative, engaging courses that exemplify best practices in teaching and learning through technology.

Jenyk’s ECON 1505 Personal Financial Literacy course equips students with practical financial skills they can use long after graduation, including budgeting, financing a vehicle, navigating the mortgage process, planning for retirement and participating in a hands-on stock market project in which students research a company and analyze its performance.

The course was recognized for excellence in four areas:

• Course Design: A thoughtfully structured course with clear learning objectives, engaging content and effective instructional strategies.
• Interaction and Collaboration: Meaningful interaction between students and instructors while creating opportunities for collaboration that foster a strong learning community.
• Assessment: High-quality assessment practices that support learning outcomes, provide timely feedback and effectively measure student progress.
• Learner Support: Accessible, well-integrated support resources that help students navigate the course and succeed.

For nearly two decades, the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program has recognized instructors and course designers whose courses demonstrate best practices in online teaching and learning. Applicants must use the Blackboard learning management system, and submitted courses are evaluated by instructional designers, faculty members and other educational professionals using the Exemplary Course Program rubric.

“We are proud to recognize educators like Sarah Jenyk, whose work reflects the creativity, care and intention behind impactful course design,” said Lisa Clark, associate vice president of Academic Transformation at Blackboard. “Their efforts help create learning experiences that are more engaging, effective and supportive for students.”

The recognition adds to Jenyk’s record of teaching excellence. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from YSU and received the university’s Distinguished Professor Award in Teaching in 2025. A member of the YSU faculty since 2009, she teaches Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, Survey of Economics and Personal Financial Literacy.

To learn more about the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program, visit the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program website.