April 22, 2004
(Dallas) - The "best of the best," representing employees of the Dallas County Community College District, were recognized during a spring ceremony at Fair Park recently. A select group of faculty members and administrators who distinguished themselves in the classroom and on the job this year received certificates or plaques and the applause of their colleagues and friends during DCCCD's "Faculty Administrative Conference Day," hosted and presented by Mountain View College.
Dr. Jesus "Jess" Carreon, DCCCD chancellor, gave a "State of District Address," and Dr. Monique Amerman, president of Mountain View, welcomed employees before the honors were announced.
The program highlighted these award presentations:
- Miles Production Company Outstanding Faculty Award - The day's top faculty award went to Dr. Yolanda G. Romero, professor of history at North Lake College. In 1993, Romero became the first Mexican American woman in the state to receive a doctorate in history from a Texas institution and the 13th nationally. She has been recognized for her work as an advisor to the award-winning Alpha Zeta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at North Lake.
Nominees representing each college in the district were: Nancy Barlow, professor of English, Brookhaven College; Dr. Lincoln Rolling, professor of history, Cedar Valley College; Dr. Harryette Brown, professor of English, Eastfield College; Diana Moore, professor of mathematics, El Centro College; Juan Baldor, professor of Spanish, Mountain View College; and Dr. Mary Osentowski, professor of speech communications, Richland College.
- Excellence in Teaching for Adjunct Faculty Award - Judy Cotton, who teaches English as an adjunct faculty member at Mountain View College, received top honors for her dedication and teaching skills. She began teaching at Mountain View in 1995 and has introduced the latest innovations in her classroom, keeping students interested with her creative, educational narrative.
The following adjunct faculty members were honored for teaching excellence in the classroom on each DCCCD campus: Carleen Naugle, communications, Brookhaven College; Cynthia Brooks-Barnes, business/science/technology, Cedar Valley College; Dorothy Keylon, mathematics, Eastfield College; Christine Schubert, information technology, El Centro College; James Chaney, insurance adjuster certification, North Lake College; and Kay Woodard, office technology, Richland College.
- Jean Sharon Griffith Student Development Leadership Award Shirley Higgs of Mountain View College received top honors for her work with the Rising Star program, which has grown from 284 to more than 600 students during the past four years under Higgs' leadership.
Nominees from across the district were: Mildred Kelley, Brookhaven College; Shane Carpenter, Bill Priest Institute for Economic Development; Sheryl May, Cedar Valley College; Judy Schwartz, Eastfield College; Howard Finney, El Centro College; the International/ESOL student advising team (Brenda Burwell, Lisa Keyes, Ines Kirk and staff), North Lake College; the Degree/Audit/Graduation team (Wanda Hawkins, Becky Witherspoon, Mary Petterborg, Lulu Beall and Kerry Landguth), Richland College; and Michael Dennehy, LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications.
- Innovation of the Year Award - Top honors went to Selena Stewart-Alexander of Brookhaven College for "Poetry in Motion," the campus celebration related to DCCCD's annual African American Read-In. The event has become Brookhaven's capstone program for African American History Month.
Other projects nominated and staffed by district teams included: "Networking Forums and Student Support Funds," Bill Priest Institute; "The Southern Dallas County Educational Consortium," Cedar Valley College; "District Centralized Transcript Evaluation Center," District Office; "Journal Entry, Voucher and Board Agenda Items: Computerized Records Management System," District Service Center; "Dropout Prevention and Truancy Reduction Program," Eastfield College; "Use of Camtasia Videos to Enhance Instruction," El Centro College; "TLC - The LeCroy Connection," LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications; "Community Outdoor Outreach Program," Mountain View College; "Santa Bucks 2003," North Lake College; and "Making Connections: The Science Corner and the Heart Project," Richland College.
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Several retirees received honors as well. For more information, contact Ann Hatch, DCCCD office of marketing and communications, at 214.860.2478.