Sloane Morrow | Contributing Writer

Since 1987, the top teaching faculty member at Buena Vista University (BVU) has been given the Wythe Award, which was endowed by the late Paul and Vivian McCorkle. The award is named after George Wythe who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and was the first law professor in the United States. Wythe had many famous students, including Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall. The couple’s intent was to improve teaching, along with attracting and retaining gifted professors.

“The goal of the award is to award good teachers and provide them with the tools to become exceptional,” Associate Professor of Biology and Chairman of the Wythe Award Selection Committee Dr. Brian Lenzmeier said.

The award allows teachers to become exceptional by giving them two things: time and a substantial amount of financial support. Each recipient is given a sabbatical period, which is a period of time taken off of work, where they can work on research. They also receive a total of $30,000 for development. With these two tools, professors are able to become exceptional.

The Wythe award application process is done through nomination. A student, coworker, or alumni can nominate someone who they think would be a deserving candidate. Each person must submit a letter stating why that person would be good candidate. The letters are then collected and read. Once all of the letters have been reviewed, the list is narrowed down to four finalists. The finalists are then notified and must supply the award committee with 10 letters of recommendation. Six of these letters must come from current and past students. The other four come from faculty members and then a person of their choice. Lenzmeier states that the choosing process is not done by popularity.

“It is not a popularity contest; it is quality over quantity. It is about whose letter really speaks to the quality of the teaching,” Lenzmeier said.

Nominations for the 2013 Wythe Award are now being accepted, but this year the nomination process has changed. In previous years, nominating consisted of writing and sending a letter. This year it can all be done electronically. The nomination forms can be found on the Buena Vista University home page under the student section. Applications will be accepted from now until Feb. 1st. Students are encouraged to nominate teachers who have had a great impact on them because they have some say in who gets to be named a finalist. Students are also encouraged to participate because attracting and retaining the best professors possible is a huge benefit.

Graphic by Keyla Sosa