Barton Community College presented the Distinguished Instructor Award to Steven Lueth, Barton’s director of instrumental activities, during the college’s 41st commencement ceremony Thursday. Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Dr. Penny Quinn made the award presentation.

Lueth has been director of instrumental activities at Barton Community College for six years. This year, he is a member of the Outcomes Assessment Committee and the Visual and Performing Arts Committee.

He is a recipient of the 2008 NISOD Excellence Award and has been recognized in "Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers." He was selected as the Russell County "Person of the Year" in 1996. Lueth is a member of the Kansas Bandmasters Association, past chair of the 1234A Kansas Music Educators Association Festival Band and a life member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a professional music fraternity. He has been active in the Kansas High School Activities Association as a regional music host for 25 years.

Before coming to Barton, Lueth taught in Russell for 25 years and was a member of the Fort Hays High Plains Band Camp staff for 30 years. His community activities include membership with the Great Bend Jazz Festival Committee, musician at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell and pianist for local music groups in Salina and Great Bend.

He has also performed with "The Diamonds," "Little Anthony and the Imperials" and Myron Floren. Lueth also has composed musical arrangements for the Fort Hays Symphony, Sen. Bob Dole, Great Bend community bands and Barton Community College music ensembles.

He and his wife, Holly, a counselor in Russell, have a blended family of six children.