A smile crept across Religion Assistant Prof. Darren Middleton as he approached the podium in April to accept the Honors Faculty Recognition Award. In his rich British accent he noted, “Well, this doesn’t make up for the revolution, but it is lovely.”

The awardee is selected by the students, making Middleton this year’s critics choice.When accepting his award — instituted in 1957 — the well-loved teacher dedicated it to the memory of junior Kim Jones, a former student slain during the Wedgewood Baptist Church shooting in 1999.