Excellence in Teaching
George Wythe Award
The George Wythe Award is Buena Vista University's highest honor for excellence in teaching, named for George Wythe, the educator who taught such famous fathers of the American Revolution as Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, James Monroe and Henry Clay.
The George Wythe Award is Buena Vista University's highest honor for excellence in teaching. The award was endowed in 1988 through a gift from the late Drs. Paul and Vivian (Class of 1959) McCorkle, who were both Life Trustees of BVU. It is named for George Wythe, the educator who taught such famous fathers of the American Revolution as Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, James Monroe and Henry Clay.
The George Wythe Award includes a $30,000 cash award and a sabbatical for the recipient to pursue professional development and/or research.
In archival footage, Dr. Paul McCorkle speaks with Buena Vista College faculty about the intended purpose of the George Wythe Award. See the video
Past George Wythe Laureates
| 2024 | Dr. Bradley Best Professor of Political Science |
| 2023 | Dr. Lisa Mellmann Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences |
| 2022 | Dr. Richard Riner Assistant Professor of Criminology/Criminal Justice |
| 2021 | Dr. Wesley S. Beckwith Assistant Professor of Psychology |
| 2020 | Dr. Shawn Stone Professor of Physics and Computer Science |
| 2019 | Dr. Nathan Backman Assistant Professor of Computer Science |
| 2018 | Dr. Andrea Frantz Professor of Digital Media |
| 2017 | Dr. Steven Mills Assistant Professor of Spanish |
| 2016 | Beth Blankers Associate Professor of Accounting |
| 2015 | Dr. Jason Shepherd Assistant Professor of Computer Science |
| 2014 | Jamii Claiborne Associate Professor of Digital Media |
| 2013 | Jerry Johnson Assistant Professor of Digital Media |
| 2012 | Dr. Swasti Bhattacharyya Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion |
| 2011 | Dr. Wind Goodfriend Associate Professor of Experimental Psychology |
| 2010 | Dr. Melinda Coogan Assistant Professor of Biology |
| 2009 | Dr. Brian Lenzmeier Associate Professor of Biology |
| 2008 | Dr. Stan Ullerich Professor of Economics |
| 2007 | Dr. William Feis Professor of History |
| 2006 | Dr. Annamaria Formichella Associate Professor of English |
| 2005 | Timothy McDaniel Assistant Professor of Mathematics |
| 2004 | Ben Donath Associate Professor of Mathematics |
| 2003 | Dr. Peter Steinfeld Professor of Philosophy and Religion |
| 2002 | Dr. Elizabeth Lamoureux Professor of Communication Studies |
| 2001 | Dr. Stanley Bochtler Professor of Education |
| 2000 | Dr. Dixee Bartholomew-Feis Professor of History |
| 1999 | Dennis Dykema Professor of Art |
| 1998 | Dr. Joseph Traylor Professor of Computer Science and Physics |
| 1997 | Dr. F. Kline Capps Professor of Education |
| 1996 | Dr. Kenneth Schweller Professor of Computer Science and Psychology |
| 1995 | Dr. Wayne Higley Professor of Accounting |
| 1994 | Dr. Michael Whitlatch Professor of Speech and Drama |
| 1993 | Dr. Bruce Ellingson Professor of Media Studies |
| 1992 | Dr. John Madsen Associate Professor of Corporate Communication |
| 1991 | Dr. Marilyn Wikstrom Professor of Education |
| 1990 | Dr. Paul Russell Professor of Business and Economics |
| 1989 | Dr. Richard Lampe Professor of Biology |
| 1987 | Dr. Gerald Poff Professor of Biology |