Highland Community College employees joined fellow colleagues on January 10, to honor individuals receiving 2018 Excellence Awards, Opel Award, and Service Awards. The awards recognize employees for professional excellence, and for their years of service.
2018 Excellence Award
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: Chelsea Martinez of Oregon, WI, Psychology/Education Instructor
Full-time Administrative/Professional Staff: Alicia Kepner of Lena, Coordinator, Nursing and Allied Health Programs
Full-time Classified Staff: Susie Dvorak of Freeport, Student Information Specialist
Part-time Employee: Heidi Spotts-Manthey of Shannon, Music Instructor and Director of HCC Chorale
2018 Opel Award recipient
Opel Award: 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 Executive Assistant, Rhonda Perry of Stockton.
2018 Service Award Recipients
Five Years of Service: Joan Miller of Winslow, Coordinator, Academic technology Resources; Kate Perkins of Freeport, English Instructor; Kevin Remrey of Mt. Morris, 3rd Shift Lead Custodian
Ten Years of Service: Karen Graves of Pearl City, Library Specialist; Kay Ostberg of Freeport, English Instructor
Fifteen Years of Service: Paul Rabideau of Freeport, Psychology Instructor; Donna Tufariello of Freeport, English Instructor; David Shockey of Ridott, Highland Trustee
Twenty Years of Service: Samuel Fiorenza, Jr. of Rockford, English Instructor; Barb Price of Freeport, Financial Aid Specialist I; Mike Sopcic of Freeport, Custodian; Laura Watson of Freeport, Reference Librarian
Twenty-Five Years of Service; Pat Dunn of Shannon, Foundation Director of Operations; Charlie Green of Freeport, Grounds Person; Madonna Keeney of Winslow, Bookstore Manager; Alan Nowicki of Freeport, Biology Instructor
Thirty Years of Service: Rose Ferguson of Freeport, Associate Vice President, Human Resources