Professor Stephen C. Bayne was presented with the University of North Carolina 2004 Professor of Excellence Teaching Award on Sunday, February 15, during the half-time ceremony at the Maryland/UNC basketball game. The presentation was part of the university celebration of faculty. Bayne is the first School of Dentistry faculty member to be honored with this special university-based award.

"For almost two decades, Dr. Bayne has been recognized by School of Dentistry students and faculty as an innovative, talented, and dedicated teacher," said Edward Swift, professor and chair, department of operative dentistry. "It is most appropriate that he has now been recognized for teaching excellence at the University level. This is a great honor for Steve, and one that is certainly well deserved."

Over the year's DDS students have recognized Bayne's unique and inventive teaching with 20 teaching awards He is also a past recipient of the Richard F. Hunt Excellence in Predoctoral Education Award, the highest teaching award bestowed on a School of Dentistry faculty member.  Doctor Bayne said, "This is very special not only for me but as recognition for the School of Dentistry. I am extremely fortunate to have worked with incredibly talented students, along side of very special faculty and staff, and under unique circumstances created by a progressive and technologically-minded Dean, John Stamm. This award is recognition of the things that our team has been able to accomplish."