Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu
BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University Professor and Department Chair of Mathematics Dr. Kevin Hopkins has been awarded the Parkway Distinguished Professor Award from Parkway Baptist Church. Dr. Hopkins will be recognized during the 2011 fall formal convocation for this achievement.
Dr. Kevin Hopkins began his career at SBU in 1989 and has served as the chair of the mathematics department for 22 of those years. He has led the department to be on the cutting edge of the use of technology in teaching mathematics. He has overseen several revisions of the mathematics curriculum during this time as well. He has also led the department to host multiple mathematics contests for elementary, middle, and high school students each year.Following are details from the nomination narrative submitted for Dr. Hopkins:
In addition to serving as the mathematics department chair, Dr. Hopkins teaches upper level mathematics classes and general education mathematics classes. He uses technology extensively and adds humor to his classes by composing and performing mathematics related songs.
Hopkins is a wonderful ambassador for the University, the mathematics department, and ultimately the Lord in his work with elementary, middle, and high school students across the state. Dr. Hopkins consistently organizes multiple mathematics contests each year in which hundreds of students visit the SBU campus to compete. He also organizes and leads multiple mathematics contest camps in the summer at SBU where many students learn mathematics within a Christian environment. His Christian influence has touched the lives of countless people, including students, parents, and teachers, through these activities.
Hopkins has stayed active in his field by attending and presenting at numerous state and national conferences. He has been a grader of AP Calculus tests for the last nine or ten years. He was the recipient of the Faculty Life Beautiful Award in 2006 as voted on by the SBU faculty. He also received the College of Science and Mathematics Faculty Service Award in 2007.
Hopkins is a faithful and active member of First Baptist Church in Bolivar. He sings in the choir, plays in the hand bell choir, publishes his Sunday School Class email newsletter, and is the secretary of the fellowship of deacons. Over the years he has served in many ways in numerous ministries such as children’s choirs and vacation Bible school.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Physics from Greenville College in 1983. He earned a Master of Science in 1986 and Ph.D. in 1989 both in Mathematics from the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign. He is married to Lori, and they have two children, Megan, a sophomore at Oklahoma Baptist University and Eric, a senior at Bolivar High School.
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PHOTO: Dr. Kevin Hopkins, SBU Professor and Department Chair of Mathematics, Parkway Distinguished Professor award.
Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.
