ISU College of Technology faculty and staff honored

The Idaho State University College of Technology recently recognized staff, faculty, and community honorees during a recognition reception.

Each year the College of Technology recognizes two faculty members for their outstanding efforts as instructors, student advocates, professionals, and colleagues. This year the College recognizes Dr. Marcella Enos and Rick Fuger as the Outstanding Achievement Award recipients.

Dr. Enos is the program coordinator and an instructor in the Business Information Technology program. Marcella was hired as a full-time instructor in 1997 and she received her Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Higher Education Administration in 2009.  The nomination letter from coworker Deb Larson read, "It is through this long association with Marcella that I have been able to observe first-hand her growth and development as a scholar, teacher, student advocate, and leader in the program, college, and university."

Fuger is an advanced instructor in the Cosmetology program and has worked at the College of Technology for seven years. Bobbi Fitch, program coordinator commented, "Rick is a first-rate instructor who stands out in all aspects of his teaching.  He has an abundance of energy in the classroom and on the lab floor and he doesn’t believe in a 'bored student.'  He is able to keep his students engaged and learning through his enthusiasm, sense of humor, and through the use of a variety of creative teaching techniques."

The Outstanding Community Partner award was developed to recognize people in the community that give unselfishly of their time and energy to support programs at the College of Technology. Thomas Mitchell, Owner of Tom's Metal Enterprises, received this award. Tom graduated from the Welding program in 1979. He worked as a welder for local companies until 1987 when he began teaching night welding classes at ISU and also for the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #60. He was employed by Idaho School District 91 as a Welding instructor at Skyline high School from 1987-1991. Tom has served as an advisory member for the welding program at ISU since 1982 and for several southeast Idaho schools. He, with the help of his wife and children, started their welding business in March 0f 1993. He employs over 30 people in the metal fabricating industry, primarily doing stainless steel work in the local food processing plants. Tom is recognized for his dedication to the Welding program; hiring graduates, and donating materials and his time to support the program.

The Staff Excellence Award recognizes classified and non-classified staff members for their quality of work, proficiency and initiative, skills in dealing with people, dependability and creativity, as well as the ability to relate to others in a manner that reflects well upon the College of Technology.  The 2010 recipients are Nichole Herter and Sherry Rindels-Larsen.

Herter is a Financial Support Technician in the College of Technology Fiscal Records office. She has been with the College for 20 years. Her nominator stated, "Nichole is always willing to be a team player whether it is answering phones, sorting mail, fixing the copy machine or refunding change. Nichole demonstrates exceptional skill, dependability and an amazing worth ethic. Nichole's commitment to the College of Technology is unfailing and she cheerfully and skillfully represents the College and university in a professional manner."

Rindels-Larsen is the Associate Director of Program Development for the Energy Systems Technology and Education Center (ESTEC). She has been at ISU for three years.  Comments in the nomination for Sherry explained, "Sherry demonstrates a positive and helpful attitude to everyone.  Her positive attitude conveys a ‘we can do it’ message to everyone who works with her and is maintained even under difficult, stressful, and schedule driven circumstances. She supports the Women and Work conference, hosts the Women in Electronics luncheons, is the university coordinator for First Lego and managed the state First Lego League competition in 2010.  She is an active member of the Relay for Life team, and recently organized a fundraising event for a student undergoing cancer treatment."

Lawrence Beaty and Steve Maclure were awarded the Excellence in Student Service Award. Beaty is an Associate Director for the Energy Systems Technology and Education Center (ESTEC) and Maclure is an instructor for the ESTEC program. This award recognizes faculty who has provided exemplary services to students. The faculty are nominated by their students and the final selection is made by Student Services staff based on both quantitative and qualitative information from the nominators. Nearly 250 nominations for a total of 60 different faculty were received.

Students, in their nominations, made the following comments about Lawrence, "In my three years on campus, I have never had an instructor who has taken as much time as Lawrence has to help students.  He stays after class as long as students need him. He has a wealth of knowledge and is always willing to go above and beyond the scope of his responsibilities to mentor students and assist virtually anyone who needs help."

Maclure was recognized by students stating, “I have never had a teacher do so much for my personal success as he has done. A common phrase he uses is ‘you are paying my salary so use me.  It's because of you that I am here.’ He comes an hour early and stays after class for two to three hours to do one on one tutoring."

To conclude the awards presentation, faculty receiving promotions were recognized and years of service awards were given to faculty and staff:

PROMOTIONS

Lucas Bloxham, Advanced Instructor – Welding

David Erickson, Advanced Instructor – Welding

David Flint, Advanced Instructor – Health Occupations

Rick Fuger, Advanced Instructor – Cosmetology

Gerald Holmes, Advanced Instructor – Diesel/Diesel Electric

Anne Hunt, Advanced Instructor – Web Site Design and Management

Steve Maclure, Advanced Instructor – ESTEC

Lance Schwope, Advanced Instructor – Diesel/Diesel Electric

Gene Warren, Advanced Instructor – Business Information

Dr. Bryan Barclay, Senior Instructor – General Education

Diane Allen, Master Instructor – General Education

Don Beamis, Master Instructor – Auto Collision Repair and Refinishing

Steve Clay, Master Instructor – Computerized Machining Technology

 

5 years

                        Karen Aguilar

                        Susan Beck

                        Tiffany Fanning

                        David Flint

                        Susan Ingram

                        Jean Swassing

                        Jeannie Vahsholtz

 

10 years

                        Rajendra Bajracharya

                        Susan Brown

                        Byron Miles

 

15 years

                        Russ Butler

                        Kai Dixon

                        Scott Jepsen

                        Teena Rhoads

                        Glenna Young

 

20 years

            Nichole Herter

            Margaret Jacob

 

25 years

                        Ralph Durtschi

 

 

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