Hill receives MOC's top teaching honor for '10
By Staff Reports
Published in News on June 6, 2010 1:50 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Dr. David Hill is the 2010 recipient of the distinguished Dr. Thomas R. Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching at Mount Olive College. The award is given to a full-time faculty member who demonstrates excellence in working with students, the academic community, leadership in and service to the community, and models to a high degree the virtuous person. Nominations for this award are given by faculty, students, and alumni.
Joining the Mount Olive College community in 2002, Hill has since served as chairman of the management and human resource management departments and taught various classes including courses in leadership, organization, management and teamwork. In 2009, Hill accompanied five students on a trip to Leon, Mexico as professor of an internship with Centro Fox, former President of Mexico.
Hill describes the atmosphere of his classroom as informal and relaxed. "While teaching classes I use real life examples and tell stories to emphasize the subject matter. Fortunately, my personal experiences in life, whether they were failures or successes, help students understand the theories and concepts in the textbook," he said.
Some of Hill's contributions to Mount Olive College have included establishing a major in human resource management, as well as assisting students in establishing nonprofit organizations on campus. These include Trojans for Hope, Labor or Love, and Mission of Compassion.
Hill is a retired Air Force Officer after serving 24 years on active duty.
His favorite assignments were Squadron Commander, RAF Alconbury, UK and his AFROTC assignment at NC State University. While in the Air Force he spent 12 years in foreign countries. Following his military career, Hill did some adjunct teaching in North Carolina and Florida. He also spent 15 years in corporate America most recently with Sam's Club where he held the titles of Senior Operations Manager, Dispatch Manager, General Manager, and Director of Operations in San Paulo Brazil. Among his assignments, Hill was responsible for opening both the Goldsboro and Jacksonville Sam's Clubs locations.
Hill received his Ed.D. in human development from Vanderbilt University; a Specialist in Education from George Peabody College for Teachers; his MA in counseling from Ball State University; and a bachelor of business administration from University of Oklahoma.
Originally from Groveland, Fla. Hill currently resides in Clayton with his wife of 47 years, Shirley Ann Hill. They have three children and eight grandchildren.
Benefactor of the Morris Award is Dr. Thomas R. Morris, a long-time friend and generous supporter of Mount Olive College. Dr. Morris is a native of the Nahunta area of Wayne County where he and his family were active members of Union Grove OFWB Church. With the vision of an education, he worked his way through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon graduation from medical school, he was an optometrist and civic leader in Goldsboro until his retirement. He now resides in Wilmington.