CENTRAL — The South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education named Southern Wesleyan University Education Professor Lillie G. Lewis as this year’s Dr. Randy Wall Distinguished Service Award Winner.

“This is an incredible award, and the committee did an excellent job in naming Professor Lewis as this year’s recipient! Professor Lewis was also the first African-American female to serve as President of this organization. She will be recognized at the annual conference in March,” said Dr. Sandra McLendon, dean of Southern Wesleyan’s School of Education.

Lewis teaches the middle level curriculum course for Southern Wesleyan University’s School of Education.

“She has made noteworthy contributions to ensuring excellence in middle level education and is passionate about conveying her knowledge to the middle level education students,” McLendon continued.

Lewis is also a retired educator from the School District of Greenville County, where she served in many different positions, including teaching in middle and high school and serving as principal on the elementary, middle and high school levels.

She has a M.Ed. in reading plus 30 hours in administration from Furman University.

The South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education (SCAMLE) established the Dr. Randy Wall Distinguished Service Award to honor the work of Wall, who was passionate about middle level education, having served as a middle level teacher and administrator and serving the South Carolina Middle School Association as the first president to serve a two-year term. Wall was also instrumental in helping South Carolina become a nationally-recognized “Schools to Watch” state. The Dr. Randy Wall Distinguished Service Award recognizes significant contribution(s) of an individual, school, or organization. The winner must exhibit a considerable, long-term impact on the advancement of middle level education in South Carolina. The contribution could be in one or more of the following areas: service, leadership, and/or research.