Midland College has announced the recipients of the Dr. Stan Jacobs Teaching Excellence Award, an annual accolade bestowed upon faculty members who foster intellectual curiosity within their students through innovative teaching methods and dedication to student success. The announcement was made during a ceremony held at the Wagner & Brown Auditorium.
According to a press release from Midland College, this year's honorees are Terry Gilmour, a professor of government and political science, and Erick Gutierrez, department chair and associate professor of automation, automotive technology, diesel technology, natural gas compression, and petroleum energy technology. Gutierrez guided his students to secure 15 separate awards in the Skills USA competitions at district and state levels. Both Gilmour and Gutierrez were awarded a $5,000 cash honorarium and a plaque due to a generous endowment from retired Midland College professor Dr. Stan Jacobs.
Gilmour has served as an adjunct faculty member for several years and has been teaching government full-time at Midland College since 1997, according to the press release. He also serves as the director of MC’s Honors Program and as advisor to the college’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Gilmour holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from West Texas A&M University along with a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University.
The selection process for the award is rigorous. As per the press release, six individuals from various disciplines undergo an extensive eligibility review once the nomination period concludes. Faculty and staff of Midland College are invited to provide input once nominations are called for; this selection process spans several months with three finalists selected for each discipline - academic and workforce. The names of Gilmour and Gutierrez will be displayed in the Pevehouse Administration Building alongside those of previous winners.