Missouri Southern
Receives Hesburgh
Certificate of Excellence

Missouri Southern Board of Regents member, Glenn Wilson (left) is pictured with Dr. Julio León, College President (Center), as they receive the Certificate of Excellence for the 2001 Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Faculty Development to Enhance Undergraduate Teaching and Learning. The award is being presented by John Biggs, CEO of TIAA-CREF, sponsor of the award.

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - Missouri Southern State College numbers among one of only four U.S. colleges or universities in the nation to receive a Certificate of Excellence for the 2001 Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Faculty Development to Enhance Undergraduate Teaching and Learning.

Missouri Southern's proposal entitled "Bringing the World to the Midwest" highlighted the college's International Mission. The award was presented to Missouri Southern President, Dr. Julio León, at the American Council on Education annual meeting on Feb. 19 in Washington, D.C. Accompanying Dr. León to the nation's capital was Missouri Southern Regent, Mr. Glenn Wilson.

The Hesburgh Award honorees will be featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education and next fall's Best Colleges issue of U.S. News and World Report.

TIAA-CREF, chartered to provide investment and retirement security for higher education employees and their families, created the Hesburgh Award to acknowledge and reward successful, innovative programs that enhance undergraduate teaching and help inspire the growth of such initiatives at colleges and universities.

It is named in honor of the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame and nationally renowned educator and world humanitarian. Rev. Hesburgh was Notre Dame's President for 35 years and served on the TIAA and CREF Boards of Overseers for 28 years.

In addition to Missouri Southern, Certificates of Excellence were received by Metropolitan State College of Denver, the University of Wisconsin System and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The 2001 Hesburgh Award Winner was Utah Valley State College.

A special booklet printed for the Hesburgh Award featured a section on Missouri Southern's International Mission. The section outlined the International Mission's, development, programs and accomplishments since the need for the program was first identified by Missouri Southern in 1987-88.

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