W.A. Young and Jan LaFever Faculty Awards

Dr. John Rhodes, associate professor of education, quality assurance coordinator and education unit head came to Friends in 2007. Dr. Rhodes was a state and national trainer for the Board of Examiners for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), a site visitor for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and served on the Evaluation Review Committee at the state level.

Stan Rogers, associate professor of dance and director of the ballet program, began teaching at Friends in 1988 and founded the ballet program in 1989. The program developed into a nationally recognized program that enrolled students from across the U.S., brought guest choreographers and artists to campus, and forged a significant connection with the Wichita community.

Dr. John Rhodes

Stan Rogers

Faculty Awards W.A. Young Award for Teaching Excellence

Friends University students, faculty and staff nominate full-time faculty members for the W. A. Young Award for Excellence in Teaching. The annual award was established in 1963 in honor of Walter A. Young who served as a Friends University history professor (1925-35), academic dean (1935-39) and president (1939-46).

The award recipient is selected for demonstrating scholarship and continuing professional growth; superior classroom presentations, motivation of student interest and capacity to inspire student scholarship; skillful course planning, providing sufficient direction with desired flexibility to enable genuine learning; and spiritual qualities of authentic Christianity paralleling the goals of Friends University for his/her students. A committee of past award recipients selects the honoree each year.

Jan LaFever Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award

Students, faculty and staff nominate members of adjunct faculty for the Jan LaFever Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award. The award was established in 1999 in memory of Jan LaFever, a long-time member of the English department adjunct faculty. The award recipient is selected for demonstrating extraordinary service to the University’s mission and students and must have taught as a member of adjunct faculty for at least one year.