 |
|
Faculty Excellence Award - Shelley Rodrigo
English Department
Nominated by Jeff Andelora
Shelley exceeds the parameters of her job description every day of her life. In addition to being one of our most innovative teachers, she is driven to continuously assume new challenges and responsibilities. Last year she worked in the CTL as MCC’s Instructional Technologist, and this year she runs faculty development, including the New Faculty Experience. If faculty want help with instructional technology, including blogs, wikis, podcasts, classroom capture, turning websites into social networking sites—you name it, Shelley is the person they go to.
Additionally, Shelley joins almost every department committee and quickly assumes leadership roles. She is constantly bringing new ideas to her colleagues about ways to use technology to enhance the way we teach and interact with students.
Shelley’s unquenchable curiosity about techno culture has led her down numerous paths. Shelley recently attended the Educause Conference to find out what is new in educational technology, and Dr. Pan nominated her to participate in the Frye Institute, a program designed for the next generation of leaders in IT.
Shelley is active in a number of professional organizations, regularly presents papers at national conferences and is nationally known and respected by academics. She has authored numerous articles and has co-authored two full-length books. The enthusiasm and energy that Shelley exhibits for teaching and learning, technology, the humanities, and working with her colleagues, both nationally and locally, to encourage professional growth is unparalleled.
|
| |
 |
|
Adjunct Faculty Award - Dwayne E. McIntosh
Counseling
Nominated by Rhonda Schlatter
Since 1996, Dwayne McIntosh has exemplified an excellent level of dedication to student, faculty, and staff services at MCC. Dwayne has worked as a Disability Resources and Services program advisor and a Student Services Specialist at Red Mountain. Here are just a few examples of Dwayne’s contributions: as an adjunct faculty, he teaches a course for student orientation; as an enrollment specialist, he advises students on transfer and occupational degree programs, acts as an ambassador to promote the importance of higher education to high school students, acts as a mentor and club advisor and assists students with financial aid and scholarships. As a DRS program advisor, he encouraged independence and self-reliance for students with disabilities.
Dwayne very actively pursues professional growth by attending several professional conferences, seminars, and/or workshops. He participates in several professional and community-oriented organizations, including the Maricopa Community Colleges Chair Academy and the National Council on Black American Affairs.
Frequently, Dwayne is found providing whole class and individual tours of the entire Red Mountain campus facilities to ensure the campus goal of personal and individualized services. Many students refer to Dwayne as "the Man on Campus" to know, and "cool," and "awesome." Nothing stops Dwayne when it comes to his determination to assist students, faculty, and staff to ensure MCC students achieve their highest levels of success. |
| |
 |
|
M&O Excellence Award - Gilbert Ortiz, Paul McDermott, and Ed Gonzales
Maintenance and Operations
Nominated by Linda Speranza
Gilbert, Paul and Ed installed the ceramic murals that were created by Linda Speranza and Madeleine Chowdhury. The four murals are based on Islamic tile patterns that opened the eyes of the math community to the sophistication of the Islamic artists in Spain and around Europe starting from 700 A.D. The interdisciplinary project was designed to create a connection for MCC students between math and art.
When it came time to install the large murals, Richard Cluff had great faith that his crew could handle the job. The crew combined their skills at installing, planning and executing the installation with the creative team’s knowledge of how it should look. They were so willing, careful and enjoyable to work with, that a process that could have been very difficult was made pleasant and seemed to happen far more easily then anticipated. The time frame to install the murals coincided with the start of the fall semester, a time when everyone wanted something from M&O, but still they worked hard to find a time to fit in the installations around their multitude of other jobs. The murals are located on the west and south walls of the Art/Communication Building and the east and north walls of the Math/Computer Science Building at MCC’s Southern and Dobson Campus.
|
| |
 |
|
MAT Excellence Award - Michael McCallister
Information Technology Services
Nominated by Marcy Snitzer, Dawn Rhodes, Karin Sherrill and Diana Breed
Mike is the sole person in IT who designs and supports Filemaker Pro databases. His list of work requests and the number of departments he supports are many, but he never makes a client feel like he doesn’t have time. Mike provides stellar round-the-clock customer service for the people for whom he has created databases.
To create or revise a database, Mike often has to spend time learning about his client’s operation and business needs. He always seems genuinely excited about the opportunity to learn about the various areas of the college. Mike displays great customer service by patiently listening to ideas, needs, and concerns. Mike has done database work for the MCC alumni community, college safety, service-learning, the nursing department and many other departments. His solutions have saved the college thousands of dollars and provided efficient ways for employees to easily extrapolate data, disseminate statistical information and gain access to accurate information.
When Mike doesn’t know how to implement an idea, rather than say it can’t be done, he jumps on the idea as an opportunity to learn something new. When pending deadlines loom, Mike immediately explores possible solutions so that deadlines can be met. Mike is also a very patient teacher, providing assistance to employees who go to him with ideas described in very non-technical terms. He takes the time to explain how the database functions, providing new descriptions and diagrams until employees understand. Countless MCC employees consider Mike a valuable asset to our college, departments, and the community. |
| |
 |
|
PSA Excellence Award - Todd Luther
Physical Science Department
Nominated by John Griffith, Mark Somers, and Dr. Mangala Joshua
Todd Luther performs above and beyond the job requirements as the Science Laboratory Technician for Astronomy, Engineering, Geology and Physics in the Department of Physical Science. Todd makes sure that supplies and equipment are ordered, sets up and takes down lab and demonstration equipment, and keeps the lab rooms and stockroom area clean.
When the Physical Science Department moved into a new building this semester, Todd spent months sorting through forty years of clutter of all the equipment that had been squirreled away in a rather large stockroom. He decided what to save and what to surplus. Once the equipment was in the new building, he had to unpack and organize it. Throughout this process, he had to maintain his normal duties, including the support of summer-term classes. Invariably, he did so with a smile and good humor.
Todd’s contributions did not end there. He made sure that the lab computers and instructor stations were assembled, re-imaged, and ready to go for the first day of class. When issues arose with the new tables for the physics lab rooms, Todd helped problem-solve solutions. Through this admittedly demanding time, Todd kept his usual sense of humor and positive attitude.
Todd also helps in departmental outreach activities such as Science Day and Astronomy Open Houses. Todd’s help is invaluable in bringing science education to our community. |
| |
 |
|
Service Excellence Award - Jared Langkilde
Office of the President
Nominated by Carol McCormack, President / CPO Mesa United Way
Jared Langkilde, a loaned MCC executive to Mesa United Way, has spent three months helping United Way organize and develop community fundraising campaigns to support a wide variety of social programs and services in Mesa. The organization has benefited tremendously from Jared's passion, commitment and quality of service.
With a struggling economy and greater demand for social services, the need for highly effective fundraising campaigns is paramount. At every business Jared visited, MCC was well represented. To crowds both large and small, Jared shared his belief of the importance of community and would speak from his heart. It did not matter if an organization needed a speaker at 4 a.m. on a Saturday or at 7 p.m. on a Monday evening; Jared was always willing to do whatever it would take to get the message out of what it means to "Live United" as a citizen of Mesa.
Because of his efforts, the college enjoys a very favorable image in the eyes of many more local businesses. Directly and indirectly, because of his service and the generosity of MCC, abused children are quietly rocked to sleep, the hungry have hot meals to eat, illiterate children are taught to read, and homeless families have a safe place to sleep.
Jared has served his community, MCC, and the United Way in ways that few are able to do—a clear and positive reflection on all the great and dedicated employees at MCC. |
| |
|
|
|
