Patrick Lee, assistant professor of accounting, was named recipient of the Charles H. and Verda R. Kopke Award for Distinguished Teaching during Southwestern College Commencement exercises Sunday, May 8. The Kopkes established the award in order to honor outstanding faculty members. 

“I would like to thank Charles and Verda Kopke for bestowing this opportunity, not only on myself, but on the distinguish faculty that I get to work with each and every day,” Lee says.  “The Kopkes’ generosity reinforces the importance of our profession and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity to receive this award. As you know, the Kopke award was established to recognize members of the college’s faculty who exemplify the college’s commitment to excellence in teaching. At Southwestern College, this is what we do--we teach, we inspire, we find every opportunity to challenge the status quo.”

Peter Heckman, academic dean at Southwestern College, notes that Lee has accumulated several awards in his time at SC.

“Patrick Lee has added the Kopke award to those he has already won, including the Fassnacht Outstanding Faculty Award and the SGA Faculty Citation,” Heckman says.  “These are all evidence of outstanding teaching.  Students appreciate his adaptability, the degree to which he makes himself available to students, and the practical nature of his teaching which is focused on helping students achieve career goals.  His leadership has helped the Southwestern College Enactus team win its regional competition, which is a remarkable achievement for an institution of this size.  I would like to congratulate Professor Lee for his many contributions to this institution.”

Lee is from Azusa, Calif. He received his bachelor of accounting degree from the University of LaVerne; a master of science in human environmental sciences from Oklahoma State University, and a master of accounting degree from the University of Connecticut.  He began teaching at Southwestern College in August 2013.

“What I love most about Southwestern College is our ability to challenge ourselves and do things that aren't so much about teaching, but more about our students,” Lee says.  “As a faculty member, I not only teach in the classroom, but I get to teach in our Enactus team. The lessons learned in our Enactus team aren't coming from a textbook, they are real life, have real consequences, and give my students real learning points to their education.”