Schmitz was selected to receive the 2019 Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award was established in 1993 with the resolution:
To underscore the importance of teaching and to encourage, identify, recognize, reward, and support good teaching within the University, the Board of Governors shall create annual system-wide teaching awards with monetary stipends which are designated the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching.
The award was conferred at the UNC Charlotte Spring 2019 commencement on Saturday, May 11.