FREEPORT — Highland Community College employees joined fellow colleagues on January 9, to honor individuals receiving 2019 Excellence Awards, Opel Award, and Service Awards. The awards recognize employees for professional excellence and their years of service.
2019 Excellence Awards
The awards recognize employees for quality work, creativity, honesty, integrity, self-development, and excellence in their professional relationships. A committee made up of Excellence Awards recipients from the previous two years and the College’s Executive Vice President selected the winners in the following categories: full-time faculty, full-time administrative/professional staff, full-time classified staff, and part-time employee of any category.
Full-time Faculty: Karla Giuffre of Freeport, Biology Instructor
Full-time Administrative/Professional Staff: Joan Miller of Gratiot, WI, Coordinator, Academic Technology Resources
Full-time Classified Staff: Renee Welch of Freeport, Payroll Specialist
Part-time Faculty: Eric Piper of Dakota, Auto Body Instructor
2019 Opel Award Recipient
The Highland Community College Foundation annually recognizes one employee with the Opel Award, named for one of the Foundation’s founders, Don Opel. The award recognizes employees who serve and promote the College. This year the Foundation presented the award to Cafeteria Manager Shelly Perkins of Stockton.
2019 Service Award Recipients
Five Years of Service: Amy Chamberlin of Forreston, Cosmetology Instructor; Justin Ebert of Oregon, Agriculture Instructor; Michael Lobdell of Freeport, Third Shift Custodian; Cindi Mielke of Ridott, Director of Retired and Senior Volunteer Program; Shelly Perkins of Stockton, Cafeteria Manager; Aaron Sargent of Lena, Industrial Manufacturing Instructor; Rick Stegall of Apple River, Maintenance Mechanic; Todd Vacek of Sterling, Auto Body Instructor.
Ten Years of Service: Karla Giuffre of Freeport, Biology Instructor; Joe Grove of Dixon, Economics Instructor; Pam Harrison of Dixon, Executive Assistant to the VP of Business, Technology & Community Programs; Chrislyn Senneff of Freeport, Nursing Instructor; Kurt Simpson of Lanark, Director, Facilities and Safety; Kay Sperry of Warren, Nursing Instructor; Sarah Warfield of Shannon, Institutional Research Data Reporting Analyst.
Twenty Years of Service: John Sullivan of Elizabeth, Chemistry Instructor.
Twenty-Five Years of Service: Dave Dilworth of Freeport, Third Shift Custodian; Deb Hayenga of Freeport, Coordinator, Conference Center & Business Institute; Pete Norman of Freeport, Director, Athletics and Physical Education.
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- Service Awards: (Left to Right) Pete Norman, Justin Ebert, Kay Sperry, Aaron Sargent, Chrislyn Senneff, Todd Vacek, Shelly Perkins, Pam Harrison, Amy Chamberlin, Deb Hayenga, John Sullivan, and Karla Giuffre
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- Excellence Awards: (Left to Right) Eric Piper, Joan Miller, Shelly Perkins, Karla Giuffre, and Renee Welch