Service: Excellence in Education

Our club fosters excellence in education in our community by recognizing and honoring outstanding teachers and students and by identifying an outstanding educator to receive the Merrill Hawkins Excellence in Education Award each year.

Teacher and Student Recognition

During each school year, the club’s Excellence in Education Committee contacts liaisons with the Starkville Public Schools, Oktibbeha County Schools, Starkville Academy, and Millsaps Vocation School each month to select a teacher of the month, who in turn chooses two students of the month to be honored by the club.

Each quarter, for the three schools selected during that period, the school’s principals, the teachers, and the two students from each school are invited to attend a club meeting and to be recognized for their achievements. The teachers and students are introduced by a committee member and given time at the podium to introduce themselves and tell a bit about themselves and their school. The teachers of the month are awarded a framed certificate, and the students are awarded both a framed certificate and ruler engraved with Rotary’s Four-Way Test.

Merrill Hawkins Excellence in Education Award Committee

The Merrill Hawkins award was established by the Starkville Rotary Club to honor an outstanding teacher each year. The award is to be presented to an active teacher in a school within Oktibbeha County whose technique, dedication, and expertise has brought distinction to their classroom accomplishments.

The award was named for Dr. Merrill Hawkins, a former Rotary District 6820 governor and dean of the College of Education at Mississippi State University. In addition to recognition and presentation of a plaque, the Starkville Rotary Club will provide a $1,000 grant to support the educational program of the recipient.

Award criteria are:

• Certified classroom teacher with a minimum of three consecutive years in his or her current school
• Demonstrated expertise in the subject matter being taught
• Recognized teaching skills and fulfillment of professional responsibilities
• Respected by colleagues, parents, and the public
• Reputation for being concerned about individual students.

Nominations must address the criteria and must be received by the Starkville Rotary Club by May 15, 2008. Nominations can be submitted by any member of the community. The Merrill Hawkins Excellence in Education Award Committee listed below will review nominations and make the selection.