He was named an Illinois Outstanding Teacher of Science in 2014, a State Farm Companies Foundation Scholar in 2012, and “Teacher of the Month” by Chicago’s WGN-TV in 2011. Earlier this year he completed a Doctorate of Education from the University of Illinois and presented his research at Harvard University’s International Graduate Student Research Conference. He majored in chemistry and minored in biochemistry at McKendree, where he was captain of the football team in 2005, a second team All American, MSFA All-Conference for football and academics, a peer science tutor and Sigma Nu social chair.