KCTCS Honors Outstanding Faculty and Staff

Versailles, Ky. (May 18, 2011) Fifty faculty and staff from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) were recognized for their leadership and significant achievements at an awards ceremony held Monday, May 16, at the Lexington Convention Center.

Statewide honors went to three individuals who not only supported their colleges, but also the entire System. Pamela Wilson, administrative assistant, general education and enrichment division at Bowling Green Technical College, was honored as the 2011 Administrative Staff Award of Excellence recipient. Amber Decker, director of grants and contracts at Gateway Community and Technical College, was honored as the Support Staff Award of Excellence recipient. Shawn Payne, assistant professor/mechatronics coordinator at Owensboro Community and Technical College, was honored as the Faculty Award of Excellence recipient.

Each of the 16 KCTCS colleges selected an outstanding administrative staff member, support staff member and faculty member. Two individuals (one support staff and one administrative staff) from the KCTCS System office were also honored.
Wilson, Decker and Payne were chosen for statewide honors by a committee of their peers. Each received $1,000 to be used for the professional development experience of their choice.

The selection process is not an easy task, said KCTCS President Michael B. McCall. Each year the Presidents Leadership Seminar graduates spend hours reviewing portfolios submitted by the college nominees.

Both faculty and staff honorees were nominated by their college for their innovative and significant achievements.

A list of all faculty and staff honorees follows, alphabetically by college.

Ashland Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Ella Smith, Title III administrative assistant
Support Staff Award: Dr. Larry Ferguson, dean of community, workforce and
economic development
Faculty Award: Dr. Aschalew Mengistu, assistant professor, microbiology

Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Mr. Clayton Case, Fine Arts Center assistantmanager
Support Staff Award: Ms. Billie Jean Cole, associate dean of student affairs
Faculty Award: Dr. Thomas Vierheller, interim dir., East Kentucky Science Center; professor, biology

Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Ginger Porter, office manager, computer sciences
and information systems
Support Staff Award: Ms. Sydney Baseheart, associate registrar
Faculty Award: Mr. Ryan Kelly, associate professor, geography

Bowling Green Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Pamela Wilson, administrative assistant, general
education and enrichment division
Support Staff Award: Mr. Mark Garrett, dir. of institutional effectiveness
Faculty Award: Ms. Eugenia Scott, assistant professor, oral communication

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Joella Spataro, staff support associate, social andbehavioral sciences
Support Staff Award: Ms. Judy Akers, Assessment Center director
Faculty Award: Mr. Jerry Clemons, associate professor, automotive technology

Gateway Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Linda Brandenburg, administrative assistant, financial aid
Support Staff Award: Ms. Amber Decker. director of grants and contracts
Faculty Award: Ms. Susan Chaney, assistant professor, medical information technology; medical administrative services

Hazard Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Misty Feltner, administrative assistant, Document Processing Center
Support Staff Award: Ms. Vickie Combs, director of human resources
Faculty Award: Mr. Brad Dyer, associate professor, CIS/mathematics

Henderson Community College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Saundra Ross, library specialist
Support Staff Award: Mr. Steve McCarty, Fine Arts Center technical director
Faculty Award: Mr. Michael Knecht, library director

Hopkinsville Community College
Administrative Staff Award: Mr. Tony Nelson, information technology specialist
Support Staff Award: Mr. Jason Lee, information technology project manager
Faculty Award: Dr. Vernell Larkin, professor, social and behavioral sciences

Jefferson Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Terri Wood, division secretary, business division
Support Staff Award: Mr. Wayne Trueblood, inventory control manager
Faculty Award: Ms. Luanne Goldsby, counselor coordinator

Madisonville Community College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Sharon Allen, senior administrative assistant, student affairs
Staff Award: Ms. Cathy Vaughan, dir. of counseling services, advising and transfer center
Faculty Award: Dr. Roger Warren, professor, mathematics

Maysville Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Mr. Jason Butler, distance learning technologyspecialist
Support Staff Award: Dr. Juston Pate, chief academic officer
Faculty Award: Ms. Mary Jane Sharp, professor, psychology and sociology

Owensboro Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. A. Nicole Nacey, business affairs specialist
Support Staff Award: Ms. Mary Kinney, Discover College program coordinator
Faculty Award: Mr. Shawn Payne, assistant professor/mechatronics coordinator

Somerset Community College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Christine Adams, Solution Center manager
Staff Award: Ms. Linda Bourne, associate dean, learning support services
Faculty Award: Ms. Linda Ballard, professor/nursing coordinator, associate degree
nursing program

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Mr. S. Josh Brooks, office support assistant
Support Staff Award: Ms. Brenda Morris, adult basic education director
Faculty Award: Ms. Ann Schertz, professor, music

West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Edna Pierce, administrative assistant, science and
mathematics division
Support Staff Award: Ms. Mellisa Duncan, director, Challenger Learning Center
Faculty Award: Mr. William Wade, dean, online learning

KCTCS System Office
Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Laurel Tinker, human resources administrative supervisor
Support Staff Award: Ms. Becky Mathewson, VLI student services support coordinator