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September 6, 2010

On Friday, September 3, Geneva College celebrated its annual Academic Convocation in Metheny Fieldhouse. Following tradition, the ceremony opened the fall semester by welcoming the campus community and presenting the new students with a charge. The event, as in previous years, was the platform to announce promotions, tenure and faculty awards.

During the ceremony Dr. Jeff Cole, professor of history and the 2009 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award, provided the students with wisdom and encouragement for the upcoming year: “May the interactions between students and teachers be filled with truth and love.” Dr. Cole also welcomed the new students, saying, “This chapter in Geneva College is yet to be written,” and encouraged them to “hunger for truth.”

This year the Excellence in Scholarship Award went to Dr. Jim Dittmar, program director of the Masters in Organizational Leadership. Dr. Dittmar has taught at Geneva since 1991 and has organized local conferences in his discipline since 1995. He has been published in the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, the Christian Higher Education Journal and John Stahl-Wert’s The Serving Leader. In addition to this, Dr. Dittmar has helped numerous students through their applied research projects and towards their doctoral studies.

Stephanie Schindel, professor of psychology, received this year’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Along with being praised by the chair of her department, Schindel’s students spoke highly of her during the application process. One student wrote, “I respect her as a teacher, a woman, a Christian and most of all as a role model.” Schindel has been teaching at Geneva College since 1997.

Recipients of the Excellence in Scholarship and Excellence in Teaching Awards are nominated by Geneva College students and faculty.

Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College’s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).