D&E Honors Woodcock, Forsythe with Top Awards

Davis & Elkins College Assistant Professor of Art Kevin “Woody” Woodcock and Assistant Director of Accounting and Head Golf Coach Alasdair Forsythe were honored Tuesday with the College’s top employee recognitions. The awards, along with more than 60 others, were presented during the annual Academic Awards and Recognition Convocation in Myles Center for the Arts Harper-McNeeley Auditorium.

Woodcock was presented the Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence. The award is presented annually to an outstanding D&E educator who is characterized by their distinguished intellectual career; enthusiasm for scholarship and intellectual curiosity; and, most importantly, by evidence that it is their professional calling to nurture the intellectual and personal growth of others. Nominations for the award are submitted by faculty, staff and students.

“It was a shocker,” Woodcock said about receiving the award. “I had no idea this was coming, and I really appreciate it. I love working with all the students – they make me feel young. It’s the job of my dreams.”

A native of a New York City suburb, Woodcock began his career at D&E as an adjunct and accepted a full-time position in 2017. Currently, he teaches color theory, advanced painting, screen printing, printmaking and senior studio.

He also has worked as a print shop manager at The Art Medium Co. in Elkins and as an art instructor with the Randolph County Schools ArtsBank program, among numerous other education institutions in West Virginia and Louisiana.

He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking and painting from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from West Virginia University. Woodcock and his wife, Mel, reside in Elkins.

Forsythe was selected for the Robin Price Award for Staff Excellence. The honor is presented annually to an outstanding staff member at Davis & Elkins College who epitomizes distinction and excellence and who makes a real difference in the lives of students, faculty and staff. Award recipients are characterized by their distinguished careers and their enthusiasm for supporting and promoting the College’s mission of preparing and inspiring students for success and for thoughtful engagement in the world.

The award was established in honor of Robin Galford Price on her retirement from the College in 2019, following a 46-year career.

“It’s such an honor to receive the Robin Price Award,” Forsythe said. “Being mentioned in the same breath as Robin is truly amazing after all she has done for the College. I’m very grateful for the opportunities D&E has given me to complete such meaningful and fulfilling work.”

Forsythe is a 2012 graduate of D&E with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance. A native of Dunlop, Scotland, he celebrated an impressive record in golf while attending D&E. He earned WVIAC All-Conference three times and was named Athlete of the Year in 2012.

After graduating, he served one season as head golf coach and then joined the business office full time as assistant director of accounting. Over the past few seasons, he served as assistant golf coach while maintaining his role in the business office. While assisting, he worked individually with the D&E lineup throughout the 2020-2021 season, including at the NCAA DII National Championships in Florida.

Under Forsythe’s leadership as head golf coach this season, the men’s team is currently ranked first in the latest NCAA D2 Atlantic Region Rankings. The women’s team concluded their spring season with a team victory, two individual victories, a program scoring record and a selection of Freshman of the Year in the Mountain East Conference.

Forsythe, his wife, D&E Director of International Student Services Lowe Del Aviles, and their daughter, Lizzy, live in Elkins.