Award of Distinction – Given to alumni for fulfilling the ideals of Rockford University and bringing honor and esteem to the university in one or more of the following ways: through their vision, dedication, and initiative in a purposeful endeavor; by their responsive and sustained efforts in community improvements; or by their notable achievements in a profession.
M A RYANN JONES HAYSLI P ’93 Following graduation from Rockford College with a double major in Spanish and child development, Maryann Jones Hayslip went on to receive two master’s degrees, one in Spanish literature and one in school leadership and administration. She put her degrees to good use while creating Spanish programs at multiple private schools throughout Illinois and Kentucky. After a fulfilling teaching and administrative career, Hayslip decided to retire as a school principal in 2021 to pursue personal interests and travel. She is currently publishing a children’s book, serves as a creative consultant for a paper-crafting company, and has a popup bakery in the works for this fall and into the holiday season. Hayslip met her late husband, Donovan, at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was working on a master’s degree in French while she pursued the same in Spanish. Hayslip and her husband took the “romance” languages very seriously and were married in 1996. Together they had three boys who kept them busy over the years. Hayslip is thankful for the solid foundation she received during her years as a liberal arts student at Rockford University and credits it for much of her success. She was among the few child development majors who was able to conduct her student teaching in a bilingual classroom. She also had the opportunity to learn administrative tasks while forming a campus chapter of a foreign language honor society. Her diverse experiences continued with the chance to study abroad in southern Mexico and serve as the university’s newspaper editor. These opportunities helped her excel in her job search and eventually allowed her to combine her passions for teaching and Spanish into a rewarding profession. Hayslip received many awards throughout her career. Most recently, she was presented the Terrell H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership, Top 10 Principal in the Nation in 2020.
CA ROL HEMPEL HUNTER ’71 Carol Hempel Hunter is a life-long educator with a passion for both excellence and equity. She has experience as both teacher and administrator in every grade level from preschool through higher education. Hunter graduated from Rockford College in 1971 with a Bachelor of Art in humanities and went on to get her Master in Education from the University of Virginia. Just after completing her master’s, she helped start a cooperative preschool, and went on to teach at Woodberry Forest School and Orange County Public Schools in Virginia for over 30 years, finishing off as an adjunct instructor at the University of Mary Washington. In every school setting she worked, Hunter focused on helping all students reach their full academic potential. She was fortunate to be able to collaborate with community members and educators to promote equity in education and to implement programs that helped gifted learners develop their talents. Hunter worked with teams of teachers, community members, and administrators to establish an Academic Scholars Institute for young Black men. In addition, her work with English Language Learners supported equity and excellence in the classroom for many non-English speakers and their families. Hunter has received various awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Orange County Education Foundation and the Outstanding Educator Award (Region 5) from the Northern Virginia Council for Gifted Education. Hunter and her husband, Ross, whom she met during freshman orientation, dated throughout their time at Rockford College. They were married on January 1, 1972 and raised two successful daughters in Orange, Virginia. Hunter now lives in South Carolina where she serves as a docent at the Columbia Art Museum. In her free time, Hunter counts learning as a hobby. Teaching was the perfect profession for her because there was always something new to learn along with her students. She loved putting together units of study and gathering information and resources to bring ideas and concepts to life. Hunter also enjoys traveling; she loved studying in Japan on the Fulbright Memorial Fellowship in 2005 and hopes to continue international travels soon.
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