April 28, 2010

Mathematics professors received both of the faculty awards for teaching that were presented at the Spring Convocation college-wide awards ceremony!  Dr. John Swallow won the ODK Teaching Award and Dr. Robert Whitton won the SGA Faculty Award.  These awards are decided entirely by the student members.  ODK is Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, and SGA is the Student Government Association. 

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION FACULTY AWARD
The Student Government Association Faculty Award is given annually to a member of the faculty who has proven to be an asset in the classroom, and who has also displayed a strong interest in the lives of students outside the classroom.
Dr. Robert Whitton is a great teacher in and out of the classroom. While in class, he has a sense of humor that keeps students engaged, and his office hours are even better. He will meet students at the Alvarez College Union, and students are always welcome to email him with questions - and he will get back to them before class time! He cares so much about the students and this school.
Dr. Whitton welcomed new students into his home early in the year to get to know them better. He made them a phenomenal chicken dinner with homemade sides and desserts. He made the extra effort to get to know the students and their extracurricular activities even if they weren't math majors.
The SGA wishes to thank Dr. Robert Whitton for his tireless commitment and dedication to the lives of Davidson students by presenting him with the 2010 SGA Faculty Award.

OMICRON DELTA KAPPA TEACHING AWARD
The 2010 recipient of the Omicron Delta Kappa Teaching Award is the type of professor that draws students to Davidson. Going above and beyond for his students, this professor continually strives to create meaningful and lasting relationships inside and outside of the classroom. As one student said, he is the kind of professor whose love of teaching is evident in every lesson he leads. His passion for sharing knowledge makes the learning environment supportive and interesting. He demands much from his students, but his excitement and devotion are so encouraging that students learn never to settle for less than expected. For his dedication to learning, and for the passion he shows and fosters within his students, Omicron Delta Kappa honors Dr. John Swallow with this year's Teaching Award.