Outstanding Faculty Honored

Outstanding faculty members were recognized Tuesday at the annual Faculty Appreciation Dinner in Henderson Dining Hall. Faculty members rated highest in student evaluations for the 2007-2008 school year were singled out. A special dean’s award and a special service award were also presented. This year, the top-rated lecturing professor award went to Tommy Peeler ’83. Peeler has been teaching Bible classes at Florida College since 2004, and has been highly rated by students every year.

One student commented on their evaluation, “I have learned more about the Old Testament in one semester than I have in my years of Bible school growing up.” Another said, “There should be another option above ‘strongly agree’ for Mr. Peeler.”

The top-rated activities professor award was given to Kenny Moorer ’78, FC’s director of athletics. Moorer has been continuously employed by FC since 1981, has been a professor at the school since 1993, and was granted tenure in 2001.

                                                                                   Jimmy Jones ’62 was given the special service award. An integral part of the elementary education program since 2000, Jones served as liaison between the College and the county public instruction board. He taught several education foundations courses as well as freshman composition. He has served on three faculty committees. He established relationships with key teachers, principals, and county officials, which has aided the internship program.

David McClister was awarded with the special dean’s award, in recognition of being the first person in the nation to obtain a PhD in classical studies through online courses. McClister earned the degree from the University of Florida in May.

During the five years he worked on his doctorate, McClister continued to preach full time. He taught full-time at the college, and several semesters he carried an overload of classes. In 2006, he requested to add a Latin course to the curriculum and volunteered to teach it.

Vice President H.E. “Buddy” Payne ’65, who presented the award, commended McClister for serving the College “unselfishly and with distinction, and professionalism of the highest order.”