Melvin O. Hawkins Jr. Melvin O. Hawkins Jr., interim department chair for Business and Public Service at Midlands Technical College, recently received the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Southeastern Teaching Excellence Award in New Orleans, Louisiana. Hawkins also received the ACBSP Regional Teaching Excellence Award in 2005.

Edwin Breazeale, MTC Business and Public Service instructor, said, "Mr. Hawkins has been an outstanding member of Midlands Technical College's Business faculty for the past six years and was an adjunct faculty member for six years prior to that. During this entire period, he distinguished himself in many ways, beginning with being chosen as Adjunct Faculty of the Year and culminating with his nomination for this high award."

MTC faculty and students say Hawkins is the model instructor, not just for his teaching abilities, but also for the way he cultivates the student- instructor relationship and for his involvement in community and college service.

"Mr. Hawkins' genuine concern for student development and his civic responsibility is evidenced by activities such as volunteering his time and talents to a career development project of sixth through 12th grade students served by our college's Educational Talent Search program," said Sandi Oliver, MTC vice president for Student Development Services.

Hawkins is currently the MTC faculty Curriculum Committee chair and is on the Education Subcommittee for the MTC Master Facilities Plan. Hawkins is also an active member of and an evaluator for the ACBSP. In the past, he has served as faculty council chair and on the Middle College Liaison Committee.

In 2007, Hawkins received the South Carolina Governor's Distinguished Professor Award, the Midlands Technical College Faculty of the Year Award, and the South Carolina Technical Education Association Educator of the Year Award.

The ACBSP is responsible for determining whether institutions applying for accreditation of their business schools and programs meet the standards set forth by the appropriate board of commissioners. The ACBSP is divided into eight regions world wide. Midlands Technical College is a member of the Southeastern Region.

The ACBSP established the Teaching Excellence Award Committee to recognize the significance of the classroom teacher to the mission of associate degree granting institutions. The Teaching Excellence Award Committee established five criteria for the selection of recipients. The criteria are classroom teaching and learning, institutional versatility, curriculum development, professional development and community commitment.