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.

Campus buildings at dusk
A statue of George Wythe

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

2023Dr. Lisa Mellmann
Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences
2022Dr. Richard Riner
Assistant Professor of Criminology/Criminal Justice
2021Dr. Wesley S. Beckwith
Assistant Professor of Psychology
2020Dr. Shawn Stone
Professor of Physics and Computer Science
2019Dr. Nathan Backman
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
2018Dr. Andrea Frantz
Professor of Digital Media
2017Dr. Steven Mills
Assistant Professor of Spanish
2016Beth Blankers
Associate Professor of Accounting
2015Dr. Jason Shepherd
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
2014Jamii Claiborne
Associate Professor of Digital Media
2013Jerry Johnson
Assistant Professor of Digital Media
2012Dr. Swasti Bhattacharyya
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion
2011Dr. Wind Goodfriend
Associate Professor of Experimental Psychology
2010Dr. Melinda Coogan
Assistant Professor of Biology
2009Dr. Brian Lenzmeier
Associate Professor of Biology
2008Dr. Stan Ullerich
Professor of Economics
2007Dr. William Feis
Professor of History
2006Dr. Annamaria Formichella
Associate Professor of English
2005Timothy McDaniel
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
2004Ben Donath
Associate Professor of Mathematics
2003Dr. Peter Steinfeld
Professor of Philosophy and Religion
2002Dr. Elizabeth Lamoureux
Professor of Communication Studies
2001Dr. Stanley Bochtler
Professor of Education
2000Dr. Dixee Bartholomew-Feis
Professor of History
1999Dennis Dykema
Professor of Art
1998Dr. Joseph Traylor
Professor of Computer Science and Physics
1997Dr. F. Kline Capps
Professor of Education
1996Dr. Kenneth Schweller
Professor of Computer Science and Psychology
1995Dr. Wayne Higley
Professor of Accounting
1994Dr. Michael Whitlatch
Professor of Speech and Drama
1993Dr. Bruce Ellingson
Professor of Media Studies
1992Dr. John Madsen
Associate Professor of Corporate Communication
1991Dr. Marilyn Wikstrom
Professor of Education
1990Dr. Paul Russell
Professor of Business and Economics
1989Dr. Richard Lampe
Professor of Biology
1987Dr. Gerald Poff
Professor of Biology