The Morningside Educator Recognition for Inspired Teaching (MERIT) Program at Morningside College has presented the 2015 Alumni Educator of the Year Award to Dr. Timothy Orwig, who teaches courses in art and architectural history at Boston College and Northeastern University.

Orwig Koch Bentsen

The Morningside Educator Recognition for Inspired Teaching (MERIT) Program at Morningside College has presented the 2015 Alumni Educator of the Year Award to Dr. Timothy Orwig, who teaches courses in art and architectural history at Boston College and Northeastern University.

The MERIT Program also presented 2015 Siouxland Alumni Teacher of the Year Awards to Jennifer Koch, a first grade teacher at Clark Elementary School in Sioux City, and Kim Bentsen, a life skills teacher at West Harrison High School in Mondamin, Iowa.

William Deeds, Morningside’s provost, presented the awards at a banquet March 18 in the college’s Olsen Student Center. To be considered for the awards, candidates must exemplify the qualities of an effective educator, have made a significant contribution to the field of education, and have had a positive impact on students and their families.

Orwig, a 1980 Morningside graduate, also has taught the history of art, architecture, and design at Boston University, Simmons College, Brandeis University, and the Rhode Island School of Design. Orwig earned a master’s degree in historic preservation studies and a doctorate in American and New England studies at Boston University. He also holds a master’s degree in English language and literature from the University of Arkansas.

Koch, who completed her teaching certification through Morningside, was recognized for implementing new math instruction strategies in her classroom and collaborating with other teachers in the Sioux City Community School District.

Bentsen received her Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Morningside in 2004.  She was recognized for developing a strong life skills program that meets the needs of special education students.

Other nominees for the Siouxland Alumni Teacher of the Year Award included:

Sioux City – Deborah Ammons, Spalding Park Elementary School; Elizabeth Reynolds Boetger, West High School; Wendy Bryce, East High School; Katie Demers, Bryant Elementary School; Lisa Frank, Lincoln Elementary School; Courtney Jungers, Hunt Elementary School; Kris McCarthy, Riverside Elementary School; Erin Nelson, Washington and Whittier elementary schools; Angela Schneider, East Middle School; Jani Sparr, West Middle School; Heidi Vondrak, Loess Hills Elementary School; Stephanie White, Unity Elementary School.

Iowa – Mary Benton, Le Mars Middle School; Lindsay DeHaan, Ridge View Middle School, Early; John Held, Denison High School; Amy Johnson, Akron-Westfield High School, Akron; Vonda MacClure, Westwood Elementary School, Sloan.

Morningside College began recognizing outstanding alumni educators in 2003.  Since that time, nearly 200 teachers have been nominated for the award.