Westminster Teachers Honored at Commencement Ceremony

Westminster Christian Academy teachers, Robert Murphy and Allison Pautler, were both awarded the Arlen R. Dykstra Teaching Prize at Monday’s commencement ceremony. Murphy is in his fifth year teaching upper school math and science at Westminster. Pautler is in her ninth year teaching middle school math and P.E.

The award, named in honor of former Westminster headmaster Arlen R. Dykstra, is a $1,000 prize, which is presented annually by the current head of school at the Westminster graduation ceremony.

The recipient is determined by a selection committee including members of executive leadership and administration at the school. The award recognizes the recipient’s outstanding expression of the Christian worldview and life view in his or her teaching and lifestyle. It demonstrates the recipient’s mastery of his or her teaching matter, involvement with the life of the school through extracurricular activities, and creative and innovative presentation of teaching material.

In addition to the public recognition and stipend, the recipient’s name is included on a plaque in the school library that includes previous award winners.