Excellence in Teaching Award
This annual award was established in 1986 by the Western Piedmont Foundation to honor a member of the full-time curriculum faculty, nominated by his or her own peers and students, for dedication to the teaching profession. Committed to the mission of the comprehensive community college, this teacher makes every effort to assist students in achieving their highest potential and to encourage inquiring minds. Selection criteria recognizes: extraordinary efforts as a teacher; service to the profession, the College and the community; involvement with present and former students; and evidence of innovative or special efforts in teaching.
2010 Excellence in Teaching Award
Neal Bevans, Western Piedmont Community College paralegal instructor, recently received the 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award. Western Piedmont Foundation established this award in 1986 to annually honor a member of the full-time curriculum faculty, nominated by his or her own peers and students, for dedication to the teaching profession.
Neal Bevans, center, receives congratulations from L-R: Rep. Hugh Blackwell (NC-86),College
Trustees Charlie Taylor and Robert Caldwell, and Dr. Jim Burnett, President of the College.
Bevans' success is evident in consistently high student and supervisor evaluations. In nominating him for this award, numerous students and co-workers expressed their admiration and respect for him. A current student writes in her nomination letter that “if there has ever been a teacher who deserves recognition for his or her work, it would be Mr. Bevans.”
In his nomination, a colleague wrote that Bevans “is an innovative thinker, helping to create many of the courses that made the College's paralegal program one of the first in the southeastern United States to offer an entirely online paralegal technology degree." He strives to use methods in his courses that assist students with learning. Bevans is one of the most widely published authors of paralegal texts, and his textbooks have been adopted by paralegal programs across the country.
Students also acknowledge Bevans is a rigorous instructor, who pushes them to set and achieve high educational goals. A former student writes, "It is an undisputable fact that Mr. Bevans is an expert in his field, but he has a gift that few people of his caliber have: he can convey his knowledge to others in a way that is easily understood."
Bevans earned an associate degree in biology from Brunswick Junior College in 1982 as well as a bachelor's degree in biology from Georgia Southern College in 1984. He went on to earn a juris doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1988 and passed the Georgia bar exam that same year. After working as a lawyer for eight years and teaching legal courses in Georgia, Bevans began teaching at Western Piedmont Community College in 1996.
