ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
Ken Kopera, physical plant director, was honored with the highest award given for staff excellence at the College. Deborah Brock, Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) instructor and faculty liaison for professional development, was honored with the highest award presented to the faculty. She received the Presidential Medallion for Instructional Excellence at the College’s spring 2013 commencement. She also serves as the faculty advisor to the student chapter of the Future Laboratory Professionals Organization and is a regular presenter at State and national conferences focusing on topics that promote student success in the field of medical laboratory technology. She is a site visitor for the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, the accrediting body for MLT programs. She also authored the most recent MLT self study, an extensive document required for the reaccreditation process, which resulted in full reaffirmation with no deficiencies.
28 | Your Community, Your College
Ted Stokes, a longtime instructor in the Industrial Electronics Technology (IET) department, received the College’s 2013 Adjunct Faculty Presidential Award May 8. An engineering manager at Schneider Electric in Seneca, Stokes has taught evening classes in the IET program for 17 years. He also has served on the IET Advisory Committee for more than 15 years. In their evaluations, students praise Stokes’ professional approach and dedication to preparing them for today’s workplace. Instructor Robert Ellenberg says: “Ted is remarkably knowledgeable in his area of expertise and equally willing to share his wisdom. He has a great capacity to connect with students, and they feel privileged to have him as an instructor.”
Galen DeHay
Robin McFall
Lou Ann Martin
Ken received the Presidential Medallion for Staff Excellence, along with a cash award made possible by the Tri-County Technical College Foundation. This year he focused on several new projects, including overseeing the design, procurement, and construction of the Industrial Technology Center in Sandy Springs, as well as the traffic and pedestrian safety improvements at the Pendleton Campus. He also oversaw projects to create a new tutoring center on the Pendleton Campus, relocation of the campus print shop, and rehabilitation of the Cleveland Hall roof.
Lee Tennent
Three of our faculty/staff members were honored as the College’s Educators of the Year and were recognized at the South Carolina Technical Education Association meeting held February 22.
Donna Shannon Palmer, department head for Allied Health/Expanded Duty Dental Assisting, was a finalist for the 2013 Governor’s Professor of the Year from South Carolina colleges and universities. She was honored as a Distinguished Professor of the Year at a luncheon in Columbia March 7. “As a department head, Donna demonstrates the consistent ability to balance and manage multiple areas of responsibility while maintaining great relationships with faculty, staff, and students,” said Dr. Lynn Lewis, dean of the Health Education Division at the College. Palmer oversees the College’s Expanded Duty Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technology, and Surgical Technology programs.
Galen DeHay, assistant vice president for instruction and institutional effectiveness and interim provost, was the College’s outstanding administrator; Robin McFall, interim dean of the Arts and Sciences Division and head of the English department, was the outstanding instructor; and Lou Ann Martin, academic support network coordinator, was the outstanding staff nominee. Also recognized was Information Technology Director Lee Tennent, who was the College’s nominee for the A. Wade Martin Innovator of the Year award.