Dr. Holly Swartzendruber, Associate Professor of Vocal Music, has been awarded the annual Clarence R. Hiebert Excellence in Teaching Award, the highest honor given to a faculty member at Tabor College.
Begun in the year 2000, the award is given annually to the faculty member who best exemplifies the qualities of excellent teaching at Tabor College.
These qualities include:
- A strong Christian commitment
- Record of excellence in teaching, as shown by peer and student reviews.
- Evidence of integrating faith and learning.
- Commitment to Tabor College as an institution, as shown in support of departments outside one’s own area.
Swartzendruber received the award from Provost Lawrence Ressler during the annual Honors and Awards Convocation, held May 13 at the college. In addition to a plaque and recognition at the annual spring appreciation dinner, the recipient of the Clarence R. Hiebert Award also receives a personal honorarium of $2,500.
“Dr. Swartzendruber is a special faculty member,” Ressler said. “It is clear from the comments of students that Dr. Swartzendruber is equally respected for her skills in teaching, her Christ-like character, and her relationship with students. She is well-deserving of the honor.”
A member of the Tabor faculty since 2003, among the courses taught by Swartzendruber are Vocal Pedagogy and Diction, Music Theory I and II, Ear Training/Sight Singing I and II, Introduction to Fine Arts, as well as private voice lessons.
A gifted concert soprano, Swartzendruber continues to develop her singing career through performances in faculty recitals, such as “Liederabend” and “Dueling Divas,” and as the soprano soloist in Fauré’s Requiem, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah.
Last fall she starred as Golde in Tabor’s centennial production of Fiddler on the Roof, and the previous year served as Music Director for the Tabor musical drama Honk!
“Dr. Swartzendruber is a fine classroom and studio teacher,” said Dr. Richard Cantwell, Professor of Instrumental Music and Chair of the Music Department, “She has the ability to balance compassion and empathy against valuable learning experiences and realistic demands for her students. She communicates equally well on the concert stage, in a tradition classroom or one-on-one relationships.”
The nominating process for the Clarence R. Hiebert Award began during the spring term, when Ressler convened an ad hoc committee consisting of the two past student Hiebert Merit Award recipients, the two immediate past Clarence R. Hiebert award recipients, and the Vice President of Student Development.
The committee received more than a dozen glowing nominations for Swartzendruber, written by faculty peers as well as current and former students. The following are excerpts:
I would like to nominate Holly Swartzendruber for the Clarence R. Hiebert Excellence in Teaching Award because I believe she exemplifies the mission of Tabor in her teaching and relations with students and other faculty. She teaches with humility despite the fact that her gifts would definitely give her reason to boast. She is a loving, caring individual who lives out her faith in an admirable way. Not to mention that her teaching ability is one of the best at Tabor.
I would like to nominate Holly Swartzendruber for the Clarence Hiebert Teaching Award. Her impact on the students she teaches in private voice is immeasurable; both on the direct impact on her students and also the impact that those matured voices have on the rest of the choir members. Her teaching style, personality, and care for her students exemplify the mission of Tabor College: to prepare students for a life of learning, work and service for Christ and his Kingdom.
Holly has touched not only my life, but so many lives that have taken voice lessons from her during their years at Tabor College. Holly is an amazing teacher that goes out of her way to make sure all of her students are learning and becoming the best adults they can so that they can make this world a better place. I see no one better for this award than Holly.
Dr. Swartzendruber has been an extreme influence in my view of Tabor, my life goals, and is an excellent role model of how a Christian woman should live out her life for Christ. As seen by her incredible growing resume and experience, she is never satisfied by complacency, but strives to make Tabor a thriving source of the highest education.
Her commitment to Christ is evident in how she treats her students and colleagues, and her tireless devotion to be the best at what gifts God has given her to bless others. She deserves to be honored for her hard work.
Swartzendruber holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music in vocal performance from Ohio University, and a Bachelor of Arts in music, from Goshen College. She is married to Dr. Douglas B. Miller, Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies and Chair of the Bible, Religion, and Philosophy Department.
“I am honored to have served in such a strong music department with wonderful colleagues,” said Swartzendruber. “It has been a privilege to work with Tabor students, both in the classroom and in my voice studio.”
