BUCKHANNON — A West Virginia Wesleyan College art professor will receive the Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award from the Mountaineer Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Jon Benjamin, associate professor in the Art and Design Department, teaches graphic design, photography, film and more. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in graphic design from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.
Over the last three years, Benjamin has also served as a merit badge counselor during WVWC’s Merit Badge College, managing a wide array of ages and skill levels while helping the students achieve their merit badges.
Outside the college, Benjamin and his wife, Abigail, own ARGO Books on Main Street in Buckhannon. The shop offers more than books. It provides workshops and camps for youth. Benjamin sees the needs of the community, especially those that impact the youth, and provides outlets for students to gain confidence and explore the world.
The award will be formally presented in November during a ceremony. Started in 2016, the Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award recognizes the valuable contributions the education community makes in the lives of young people.
