Wake Forest University honored two of its professors today at the university’s Opening Convocation.
Professor of Education John Litcher was presented the Donald O. Schoonmaker Faculty Award for Community Service. Charles M. Allen, professor emeritus of biology, was given the Jon Reinhardt Award for Distinguished Teaching.
The awards were presented during the convocation that featured an address from Oscar Arias Sanchez, former president of Costa Rica and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Litcher joined the education department in 1973. On campus, he has advised several groups including lower division students, education majors, the student judicial board, Mortar Board, Alpha Phi Omega, and Alpha Sigma Pi. In the community, he has volunteered for the Citizen’s Coalition for Child Development and Crisis Control Ministry. He has served on the board of directors for the Bethlehem Center and as president of Youth Opportunity Homes Inc. He has also served as president of the Lewisville Volunteer Fire Department and has chaired the Recycling Committee for the Chamber of Commerce.
Allen was given the Jon Reinhardt Award for Distinguished Teaching. Each year, nominations are submitted by alumni who completed their undergraduate work 10 years earlier. So, for this year, nominations came from the Class of 1988. One former student said of Allen, “His lectures were electrified by the passion of an eternal student.” Another alumnus said, “The fact that this professor has multiple interests in academics and the greater community as well shaped my entire view of what it means to earn a liberal arts education.”
Allen joined the Wake Forest biology faculty in 1941. He received the university’s highest honor, the Medallion of Merit, in 1972. He retired in 1989.
