Bellevue West teacher wins 2023 Freda Battey Distinguished Educator Award

08 Aug 2023    

Patricia Hinkle, business teacher at Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Nebraska, has been selected to receive the Freda Battey Distinguished Educator Award presented by the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

The Battey Award honors the life and career of Freda Drath Battey, a 1923 graduate of Nebraska’s Teachers College, and longtime public school teacher in Ashland, Nebraska. Battey’s family established the “Distinguished Educator Award” in her memory in 1986.

The criteria for the award is “excellence in teaching coupled with recognition in other complementary education activities, such as counseling of students or initiation of student-oriented programs.” Candidates for the award are nominated by students in the College of Education and Human Sciences.

Hinkle has taught business education at the high school level for over three decades. She is a passionate educator that is constantly enhancing her teaching strategies to find new ways to connect with students. Hinkle is known for her great sense of humor, and true enthusiasm for teaching which she uses to get students excited about the subject matter. 

“Pat consistently reminds students that building their personal resume starts now by gaining knowledge and skills that will help them succeed in college and the workplace,” said Jane Schaefer, assistant dean of the College of Business at Bellevue University. “She encourages students to think for themselves and explore learning because life is about learning career and life skills each day.”

Hinkle prioritizes experiential learning and helping her students get hands-on experience. She supported students in her management and leadership class launch a new vending machine business, “The Bird Box,” which dispenses school apparel and supplies. Income generated from The Bird Box supports student needs in the department. She has also organized opportunities for her students to travel to meet with business executives. For example, she has taken students to the Nike corporate headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, and led several trips abroad to leadership summits where students learned about design strategies and brand development.

“What sets Pat apart from other teachers is that she is not content to just share curriculum, but that she constantly is looking for opportunities to connect our students with business leaders across the country,” according to Kevin Rohlfs, principal at Bellevue West High School.

Beyond her teaching responsibilities, Hinkle also helps students explore their interests outside of the classroom. She has taken hundreds of students to state and national FBLA leadership conferences over the past 23 years. In recognition of her commitment to advising her students and FBLA, in 2012 Hinkle received the Nebraska FBLA Adviser of the Year award. 

Hinkle received her bachelor’s degree in business education from the University of South Dakota, and her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, and instructional technology from Peru State College.

Hinkle will be honored on campus in September. The Freda Battey family will present her with an inscribed school bell and cash award. Bellevue West High School will also receive a cash award.  

To learn more about the Battey Award, visit https://go.unl.edu/batteyaward.