In a letter recommending the late professor Kurt Birdwhistell for the Dux Academicus award, chemistry senior Vu Nguyen said Birdwhistell was a brilliant instructor, caring advisor and even a father figure to him prior to his death in November.

It is because of students like Nguyen and many others who were deeply touched by Birdwhistell, that on Jan. 9 he was posthumously awarded the Dux Academicus award, the highest honor a Loyola faculty member can receive.

“He richly deserved the award for his many years of dedicated service to chemistry majors, to the department and to the profession of chemistry,” the chemistry department said in a statement from faculty.

According to Alice Clark, chair of the Dux Academicus committee, the recipient of the award is selected based on letters of recommendation from students and faculty as well as the individual’s curriculum vitae. The committee only meets once to review these materials and make a selection.

“This is often much more difficult than that simple statement suggests, because there are lots of truly excellent folks on our campus,” Clark said.

According to the chemistry department’s statement, Birdwhistell taught at Loyola for 27 years and sponsored 52 undergraduate research students in that time. He was also an active advisor to the student chapter of the American Chemical Society on campus.

In addition to his dedication to teaching and mentoring students, Birdwhistell was instrumental in the renovations of the chemistry labs in Monroe Hall and personally acquired funding for much of the equipment himself.

He was diagnosed with adrenal cancer in the fall of 2013 and died at home surrounded by his family on Nov. 2 last year.

His wife Teresa Birdwhistell accepted the award on her husband’s behalf to a standing ovation.

Nguyen said he is glad that his recommendation letter allowed him to express his gratitude toward Birdwhistell and that he is fortunate he had the chance to tell Birdwhistell how much he was appreciated while he was alive.

“Dr. Birdwhistell’s winning the award gives me a comforting feeling to know that not just the chemistry department but everyone at Loyola University recognizes him as one of the most outstanding faculty members whose ability to impart knowledge and wisdom to student depicts the Ignatian ideals of truth, faith and service,” Nguyen said.