Four Southwestern University employees were recently honored for exemplary service to the university.

The four received the Joe S. Mundy Exemplary Service Award, which was created in 2002 as a memorial to the leadership of former alumnus and Trustee Joe Mundy. The award honors faculty and staff members who have demonstrated exemplary service to Southwestern.

This year’s award winners were Don Gregory, head men’s soccer coach; Ben Nava, a groundskeeper in Physical Plant; Phil Hopkins, associate professor of philosophy; and Jimmy Smith, professor of kinesiology.

Gregory has worked at Southwestern since 1998. In addition to coaching the men’s soccer team, he serves as one of the university’s Paideia professors. In February, his Paideia group organized a program to provide food to needy residents on Valentine’s Day. This effort resulted in more than $3,000 worth of food and drinks being delivered to the Caring Place and the Eagle Locker program for homeless students attending Georgetown High School. Over Spring Break, he took members of the Southwestern soccer teams on a “soccer and service” trip to El Salvador where they distributed soccer equipment to local teams and gave soccer clinics for children in the area. Gregory also volunteers regularly at the Caring Place and mentors a GISD student.

Nava has been on the Southwestern staff since 2001. He serves as advisor to the SU Native student group and organizes the SU Native Powwow each year. He has taught Native American craft making to faculty and staff in the summer and has helped teach students about Native traditions.

Hopkins and Smith were recognized for their work as chairs of the university’s Academic Affairs Council. Smith chaired the Council in 2009-2010 and Hopkins chaired it in 2010-2011. Both also have served as chair of their departments and have taught innovative First-Year Seminars. Hopkins serves as one of Southwestern’s Paideia professors and Smith spends numerous hours a week helping rescue unwanted dogs and place them in good homes.