HCC honors Employees at Awards Day Event

Halifax Community College employees were honored during the Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony, Apr. 17 at The Centre. Teacher of the Year, Part-Time Teacher of the Year, Innovator Award, Spirit Award, Staff Award, the President’s Leadership Award, and service awards were presented. All total, this year’s recipients had 235 years of service between them at HCC.

Thomas Schwartz, vice president of Institutional Advancement was the guest speaker. “This event identifies and celebrates those who have done extraordinary things,” he said.

This year’s Excellence in Teaching Award was presented to Dental Hygiene Instructor D.J. Markham. Excellence in Teaching Part-Time Award went to Math Instructor William Beck. These selections are based on consistent, excellent job behaviors that exhibit unselfish devotion and significant contributions to student success, student interactions and successful experiences and outcomes, classroom success and effective learning results, innovations in teaching, leadership roles beyond the classroom, professional development activities and experiences that enhance teaching effectiveness, and past recognition and awards received as a faculty member.

The Innovator Award went to Distance Learning Director Beth Gray-Robertson. It is presented to the HCC employee who has implemented a fresh or new idea that addresses the mission of the college. Selection criteria includes innovation that supports the college’s mission, impact of the innovation, cost effectiveness, sustainability, applications, and creativity.

The Staff Award was presented to Institutional Advancement Administrative Assistant Sherry Agee. Selection is based on commitment and unique contributions to HCC, its students, and to the community college experience. Consistent, excellent performance on the job, exhibiting unselfish devotion to duty far and above normal requirements and significant contribution to the advancement of HCC and its students as well as responsible, efficient use of time, money, technology, personnel and/or other resources for the benefit of HCC, its students, and its community are considered.

The President’s Leadership Award is presented to an employee who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in support of HCC’s mission. The awards committee selects the recipient based on leadership traits, setting the example for others to follow, personal commitment and extraordinary dedication to the college mission, achievement and demonstrated accomplishments, and self-improvement. The recipients included Counselor Eugene Brown, English Instructor Cathy Farabow, and Literacy Education Director Tamba Thompson.

The Spirit Award went to Bookstore Clerk and HCC alum Howard Bethany. It is presented to the HCC employee who exemplifies cooperation and enthusiasm and serves as a positive reflection of the college’s mission. Selection is based on demonstrating a strong commitment to the community through activities that positively impact the region, participating in college activities, facilitating positive collaboration within the college, exhibiting a proactive attitude, motivating co-workers and students to excel, service as a spokesperson and advocate for the college, demonstrating a strong commitment to the college, and contributing to the effectiveness of the college to carry out its mission.

Special recognition was given to the Child Care Center’s Rhonda Johnston, who was acknowledged as the Halifax-Warren Smart Start Partnership for Children’s 2008 Early Childhood Educator of the Year. The honor was presented to Johnston for her outstanding contributions to the lives of the young children in her classroom. She is the lead teacher of the center’s two/three year-old classroom.

Service awards were given to full-time employees who have reached certain anniversaries of service. Those with five years of service were Kevin Argo, Sithah Campbell, Brenda Cousins, Sherida Gholston, Phyllis Hayes, Lori Howard, Dorothy Hughes, Teresa Hux, Monica Simmons, and Chris Wright.

Those with 10 years of service were Gladys Askew, Dr. Bindu Dhasmana, and Kevin Kupietz. Judy Yates was recognized for 15 years of service.

Jason Bone, Dorothy Conner, Kim Edwards, and Bentley Mohorn were recognized for 20 years of service. Thirty years of service employees were Janice Hargrave and Cathy Vassor.