ETSU and the community came together for a significant first this semester to thank Benjamin D. Caton for his service and education. Caton’s award ceremony was the first public musical performance on campus since March and the first ever in the newly renovated D.P. Culp Student Center.
Caton, an ETSU alumnus and retired professor of 46 years, recently won the 2020 Tennessee Music Teachers Association’s Teacher of the Year Award for his dedication to music education and community. However, Caton was unable to accept the award in person due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. As ETSU implemented health guidelines and tested best practices, Caton was finally able to accept the award he was slated to receive in July, as well as some additional surprises.
The award ceremony took place on Sept. 17 at 9:15 a.m. in the Culp Center’s newly renovated Cave. All who attended were required to wear facemasks as per university policy as well as observe social distancing. The newly built stage and screen offered space for live music as Caton was greeted by a brass ensemble made up of music students who wanted to express their appreciation. The ensemble was conducted by Joe Moore, associate director of bands, and played several of Caton’s favorite hymns as well as an original composition, “Fanfare for BDC 3.” The ensemble played through fabric screens on their instruments’ bells to prevent aerosols from traveling as they played.
After the performance, Matthew Potterton, chair of the Department of Music, took the stage to announce Caton’s Faculty Emeritus Award and to outline Caton’s path through ETSU from his graduation in 1968 to his 46 year career as a professor.
“As professors we want to have a positive influence on students’ lives,” Potterton said. “And Dr. Caton, from reading these letters and seeing all of the social media posts and emails that have come our way, for 46 years you have had a huge impact on students’ lives here at ETSU and we can’t thank you enough for everything that you’ve done.”
Caton was then presented with the TMTA Teacher of the Year Award by Associate Professor Esther Park, who commented on Caton’s extensive efforts to raise ETSU to the status of an All-Steinway School, an international honor. Park also spoke to the hospitality and care that Caton showed when welcoming her as a student.
After these honors ETSU President Brian Noland took the stage to thank Caton on behalf of the university and to express gratitude for the role Caton’s music and service played in his own life. In addition to the personal thanks of the institution, Noland revealed the thanks expressed by the State of Tennessee in the form of a joint resolution headed by State Sen. Rusty Crowe, signed by Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton.
Caton’s work at ETSU was known for the energy shown in the classroom, including uproars of laughter and challenging his students to live up to the potential he saw in them. When asked about his relationship with his students, he expressed love and appreciation for their place in his life.
“I consider them my children,” said Caton. “I don’t have any children but I’m as close to some of the students that I consider them almost my children and I love them. Actually two of my former students, they were my APS workers, they married one another, have two children, and they invited me to go to Scandinavia for three weeks two or three years ago, and I still go visit them. The children don’t know what to call me!”
