Gene Taylor, NDSU director of athletics, was awarded the Blue Key Honor Society’s Doctor of Service Award, one of the most distinguished awards a faculty member can receive at NDSU, on Tuesday, April 17.

The Doctor of Service Award was started by Blue Key Honor Society in 1930 and was first given to Clarence Putnam. Since then, the award has been given to recipients such as Archibald Minard, William Sudro, Katherine Burgum and Prakash Mathew.

Doctor of Service recipients are selected based on their unselfish dedication, service and genuine concern for maintaining the proper educational environment at NDSU.

Blue Key Honor Society chose Taylor for his dedication and guidance in the NDSU athletics program, where he has served as the director of athletics for 11 years.

In this role, Taylor has helped NDSU move from NCAA Division II to Division I, secure a Division I conference for 16 intercollegiate athletic teams, obtain an immediate home in Division I and triple the athletic budget, all while keeping the current student-athletes’ best interests in mind.

NDSU is student focused and committed to its land-grant mission.