The Distinguished Teacher Award, made possible by a generous gift from Lettie Judkins McNeill, is presented annually at commencement to a faculty member recognized by both students and faculty colleagues for having the following criteria:

• Outstanding ability as a teacher
• Concern for students' personal development
• Enhances high academic standards
• Attitude and performance supports Simpson College's goals

 To be eligible for nomination, a faculty member must be a full-time, active, regularly appointed (tenured or tenure-track) associate or full professor who holds a regular non-terminal contract, and who will teach at Simpson or serve on a sabbatical basis in the subsequent year of the award.  The Distinguished Teaching Award cannot be given to the same faculty person more than once in any five-year period.  All students, faculty, administration and staff members may nominate any eligible associate professor or full professor, and those nominations are due the Friday preceding spring break.  The winner is determined by ballots cast by graduating seniors.  The deadline for casting the ballots is the Wednesday before spring semester finals.