For the second time in three years, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs in Overland Park, Kan., has selected Butler County Community College business educator Les Graves as the winner of a five-state Teaching Excellence Award, qualifying him for consideration as the council’s international award recipient in Texas in June.

Graves of Zelienople, an assistant professor and BC3 educator for eight years, is one of five finalists for the 2019 International Teaching Excellence Award, which will be presented during the council’s annual conference in Houston from June 21 to 24.

BC3’s business programs are nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The council has eight national and three international regions, each divided between associate degree institutions and those conferring baccalaureate degrees or higher.

Graves is the Teaching Excellence Award winner from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs’ Region 2, which has 16 associate degree institutions as members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.

As the regional selection, Graves will receive a crystal medallion that recognizes those who exemplify teaching excellence in the classroom.

One educator in each division will be recognized with the 2019 International Teaching Excellence Award, which is based on five criteria: teaching and learning, weighted heaviest; professional development; institutional versatility; curriculum development; and community commitment.

Sherri Mack of Butler, an associate professor and BC3 educator for 24 years, was the 2017 winner of the Region 2 award.