History has been a part of Bailey Young’s life since childhood when he began burying his head in books from his father’s library.

Young, a history professor, received the Distinguished Faculty Award, which is presented yearly to an Eastern faculty member who is chosen based on his or her unique teaching ability, research and service to the university.

Young began working at Eastern in 1994, and the level of his classes varies from general education to graduate school courses.

“History has been my strongest, most consistent passion for as long as I can remember,” he said.

Young also said a lot of his inspiration to teach came from having talented instructors in high school.

“I love what I do. I’m never bored. I try to give the students a sense of why it’s interesting and why it matters,” Young said. “I try to help them develop their own interests and build on their strengths. I try to encourage students to learn to ask questions, which can lead to interesting answers.”

Four years after Young began working at Eastern, he started a summer program to take students to Belgium. There, the students excavate an old castle where they can work with students from the area and learn while they discover Europe, he said.

When Young first found out that he had been nominated for the Distinguished Faculty Award, he said was very touched and honored.

“There are so many people on the faculty who are deserving of an award like this,” he said.

Nathan Allison, a graduate assistant who works with Young, said he nominated Young because of his passion for what he does.

Young always works hard to get students involved and excited, Allison said.

Last semester, when Allison first met Young, a film crew from Belgium came to the university to do a segment on Young and his program in Belgium.

Young gave a presentation about the field school in Belgium for the film crew.

Allison said Young entered the presentation dressed like Indiana Jones, the fictional archaeologist.

Allison said Young stepped up to help him get involved right away when he had first arrived at Eastern.

“He made me realize that I still have so much to learn,” Allison said.

Young said Eastern has been a wonderful working environment for him because of the support and dedication of his colleagues.

“Eastern has a good balance between teaching and research, and that’s not the case everywhere,” Young said.

The Distinguished Faculty Award will be presented to Young at the spring commencement ceremony on May 5.

Piper Black can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].