Dr. Fred L. Mathews, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Southwestern Michigan College, received a distinguished award last week from the Board of Directors of the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA).

The MCCA annually presents the organization’s Recognition Award to individuals who have made exemplary contributions and rendered outstanding service to the community college concept and to Michigan’s Community Colleges.

“I can think of no other individual that fits the description of this award better than Dr. Fred Mathews,” remarked Mike Hansen, president of the Michigan Community College Association.

Mathews was honored by presidents and trustees from Michigan’s 28 public community colleges for his nearly 46 years of service to not only Southwestern Michigan College, but to community colleges all over the state and across the country.

In addition to his lifetime of community service, Dr. Mathews was also the founding member of the MCCA and has also served on the board of directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), the national organization representing trustees from all across the country.

In 1976 he was recognized by the ACCT as the most outstanding trustee in the nation.

“No matter what side of the argument you maybe on, what position you take, or what your relationship is to Fred, you know that the discussion will always be fair.

“And you can never question his passion, energy, commitment, dedication and loyalty to his college, and the community college movement” concluded Hansen.