Keith Hardy to receive Orville & Jewel Mills Young Faculty Award

April 21, 2009
Contact: Paul K. Logsdon, Director of Public Relations and Publications (417) 865-2815, ext. 7292

Springfield, Mo — Dr. Keith Hardy is the 2009 recipient of the Orville & Jewel Mills Young Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. This is the fourth year that this award has been presented.

The Mills Award was established by Orville and Jewel Mills to recognize professors under 45 years of age who have less than 10 years of teaching experience at the college level. It includes an unrestricted cash grant and will be presented Friday, May 1, during Evangel’s commencement ceremony.

The recipient of the Mills Award is decided by the academic department chairs.

“It’s nice to be honored for something you truly enjoy doing,” said Hardy of receiving the award.

Originally from Tallahassee, Fla., Hardy joined the Evangel faculty in 2000. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas in 2006 and has been chair of the physical education, recreation and exercise science department since 2007. He also teaches exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology and statistics classes.

This past year as department chair, Hardy has added a new exercise science major and minors in personal training and sports administration, with hopes of offering an athletic training program in 2010.

Hardy has led Evangel’s United Way Campaign during the past two years and has also participated in the University Alliance Program with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Marine Corps Officer School Educators Workshop at Quantico, Va.

Hardy is also a triathlete, completing two 140.6-mile Ironman competitions.

Before joining the Evangel faculty, Hardy worked at Springfield Public Schools for 10 years and Willard Public Schools for one year as a teacher and coach and at Cox Monett Health Systems as a physical therapist.