2007 Star Awards
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December 2007 Faculty Star Award Ken Leslie, Instructor of Collision Repair Technology |
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December 2007 Staff Star Award Jimmie Jones and Don Powell, training specialists at the Business and Industry Center, both received the December 2007 staff Star Award. During a presentation at the Business and Industry Center, Dr. Bakke commended both men for their outstanding commitment to business and industry training and economic development in central Arkansas, particularly for their work with LM Glasfiber over the past eight months. |
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November 2007 Faculty Star Award Steve Hotle, Instructor of Aviation Maintenance Technology Steve Hotle, Instructor of Aviation Maintenance Technology, received the faculty Star Award for November. Steve Hotle has chaired the college's Aviation Department for the past several years. In his presentation, Dr. Bakke commended Hotle for helping to develop the new Associate of Science in Aviation, to revamp the Aircraft Manufacturing Technology Program, and helping design expansion of the building.. |
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November 2007 Staff Star Award Lilly Dixon, Faculty Services Secretary, received the staff Star Award for November. Lilly was nominated by six of her colleagues at the Little Rock site. According to her colleagues, "Lilly is extremely skillful at her position, has an enthusiastic personality, and goes above and beyond her responsibilities. She is a student advocate and handles all crises with grace and dignity." |
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October 2007 Faculty Star Award Mayo Johnson, Instructor of Information Technology Mayo Johnson, Instructor of Information Technology, received the faculty Star Award for October. Mayo was instrumental in developing our Web design and Internet technologies classes. Mayo serves as chair for the Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission and played a role in chairing WorldFest and helped the college celebrate the 50th anniversary of the intergration of Central High School. |
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October 2007 Staff Star Award Wendy Davis, Assistant Library Director Wendy Davis, Assistant Library Director, received the staff Star Award for October. Wendy is a member of Leadership Pulaski Tech Class 1, and chair for the college's Information Technology Committee and serves on the Administrative and Business Affairs Committee. Wendy was instrumental in helping Dean of Libraries Debbie Kirby open the new Ottenheimer Library in 2006, and helping to plan for the opening of the new library at the Pulaski Tech Little Rock - South Location. |
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September 2007 Faculty Star Award Ulrike White, Chair, Department of Languages, received the faculty Star Award for September 2007. Dr. Bakke commended her for her work, particularly the Spanish Fiesta which drew over 500 people in April, and most recently the Hispanic Heritage exhibit in late September. |
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September 2007 Staff Star Award Summer Brown, director of Student Life and Leadership, received the staff Star Award for September 2007. Summer spearheaded the college's Week of Welcome, serves as SGA co-sponsor, and has made several trips to Louisiana to assist in the hurricane relief efforts. |
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August 2007 Faculty Star Award Allen Loibner, instructor of English and journalism in the Fine Arts and Humanities Division, was presented with the August 2007 Faculty Star Award on Monday. In addition to teaching English and journalism classes, Loibner also organized PTC's first digital photography classes and has been a part of numerous enrichment activities offered by the division. He also serves as director of the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association, whose members include the yearbook, newspaper, literary magazine and broadcasting programs from across the state at the high school, junior high and middle school levels. In his role with ASPA, he helps teachers develop curriculum, organizes staff development opportunities for teachers, organizes workshops for students and helps improve the overall quality of scholastic journalism in the state. As part of this honor, the ASPA is housed on the Pulaski Tech campus. Earlier this year, Allen won the Friends of Scholastic Journalism Award, one of the most prestigious national awards given to journalism educators or professional journalists committed to scholastic journalism. |
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August 2007 Staff Star Award Augusta Farver, dean of business, received the staff Star Award for August. Dean Farver, who has been with the college for nine years, initiated development of the college's paralegal technology program. He is involved in many campus activities, including serving on the Business Advisory Committee, co-sponsoring Student Government Association and working with the Pulaski Technical College Foundation to initiate the Business of Art fundraiser. |
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July 2007 Faculty Star Award Jimmy Davis has been an outstanding member of the Pulaski Technical College faculty for more than 20 years, having founded the Respiratory Therapy program and - this year - taking it to a new and expanded level. His work in developing the program’s curriculum and experiential learning opportunities for students has not gone unnoticed by his peers and colleagues on campus and in the medical community. During the past year, Davis served on the Foundations of Excellence steering committee, chairing the Roles and Purposes Dimension Committee and developing an excellent report that will serve as a roadmap for new student success initiatives. Additionally, he has served on countless college committees over the years, including the Development Committee and numerous accreditation committees. “Jimmy always has a positive outlook and is committed to the success of each and every student,” his colleagues wrote in nominating Davis for the award. “His graduate placement and licensure rates speak for themselves. He truly defines the word ‘excellence’ in teaching, and we are very fortunate to have him on our team.” |
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July 2007 Staff Star Award Amy Baldwin has been teaching for Pulaski Technical College since 1996. She has taught developmental English, composition and literature classes both on campus and online. From 2003 to 2006, she served as distance education coordinator. Her service to the college has included editing and publishing the first literary magazine in 1998, founding the distance education committee in 2000 and academic integrity committee in 2003 and editing the self-study document for the Higher Learning Commission accreditation visit in 2002. Currently, she coordinates the new professional development program at the college and teaches composition and college seminar, a first-year experience course. In addition to her duties at Pulaski Technical College, she regularly speaks and provides workshops at conferences and colleges on topics ranging from academic integrity, distance education and college success strategies. She also serves on the steering committee for Leadership Pulaski Tech. "Amy's innovative approaches to student success and teaching excellence have established a foundation of excellence and legacy of learning at Pulaski Technical College," her colleagues wrote in nominating Baldwin for the award. "She is most deserving of this recognition." Her textbooks, The Community College Experience (Prentice Hall, 2005) and The Community College Experience PLUS (Prentice Hall, 2007), have been adopted by more than 70 colleges and universities for use in a colleges success/first-year experience course. |
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June 2007 Faculty Star Award Ann Fellinger has taught full time since 1989 and has been with Pulaski Technical College since 1994. She holds an undergraduate degree in English and journalism and a Master of Arts from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was one of the first full-time English instructors hired at Pulaski Tech and was instrumental in curriculum design. She taught freshman English and American literature and helped establish the developmental writing program at Pulaski Tech. She has taught College Seminar, the school’s first-year experience course, since 2000. She currently serves as the chair of College Studies department and is co-director of the Achieving the Dream initiative. Fellinger has been an integral part of several North Central self-studies at Pulaski Tech, was one of Pulaski Tech’s original assessment committee members and was instrumental in designing the college’s assessment program. She served in some capacity on every NCA self-study, including serving as the editor of the self-study in 1995-1997. She also co-chaired the Foundations of Excellence self study in 2006-2007. "Student success is Ann's top professional priority and is evident in everything she does in and outside of the classroom," her colleagues wrote in nominating Fellinger for the award. "Ann IS our bright and shining star and is most deserving of this honor." |
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June 2007 Staff Star Award Rhonda Carroll serves as director of Pulaski Technical College’s Learning Assistance Center, where she oversees daily operations of the computer lab and tutoring center, supervises tutors, coordinates tutoring needs with academic departments and counseling and collects and analyzes usage data. Carroll has been a member of Pulaski Tech's staff and faculty since 1993. During that time, she also has served as coordinator and chair of the Education and Academic Success Division, interim dean of the University Studies Division, president of Faculty Council, co-chair of the North Central self-study process and instructor of reading, college studies, cultural studies, pre-algebra and basic mathematics. She earned an undergraduate degree in education from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1974 and a graduate degree in adult education in 1990. She is completing a doctorate in two-year college leadership at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Carroll has served on more than 20 college committees from 1994 to 2006 and has given presentations at professional meetings such as the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges, Governor’s Symposium on Technology in Education, Arkansas Tutoring Association Conference and the Arkansas College Reading and Learning Association. She is a member of the National Association of Developmental Education, the Arkansas Association of Developmental Education, the National Association of Academic Advisors, the Association of Tutoring Professionals and the National Tutoring Association. She serves as a mentor for a recipient of the Single Parent Scholarship Program and on the steering committee for Leadership Pulaski Tech. "We can think of no individual at Pulaski Tech more deserving of this honor," her colleagues wrote in nominating Carroll for the award. "Her 'above and beyond' approach to teaching and service has taken the learning assistance initiatives to a new level." |
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May 2007 Faculty Star Award Glen Acrey, who has served on the Pulaski Tech faculty for 24 years, was recognized for excellence in teaching and service to the college and community. During his time at Pulaski Tech, he has served on numerous college committees, has served as an advisor for Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) and has assisted countless businesses and industries in providing training and education for their employees. Most recently, Acrey attended a week-long academic advising institute sponsored by the National Association for Academic Advising, where he helped to develop a comprehensive advising plan for the college. He also has been named to the college's advising steering committee for 2007-2008. |
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May 2007 Staff Star Award Jimmy Pierce is the Plant Maintenance Coordinator for the Physical Plant. His duties consist of assisting the director of the physical plant and supervising physical plant workers on various jobs needed to keep the college running smoothly. Jimmy joined Pulaski Tech in 2000, after working nine years at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences as an electrician foreman. He started in construction work as an electrician apprentice in 1978 and earned his master license in 1995. He has wired schools, buildings, apartments and airports throughout the state. Jimmy lives in Levy with his wife of 38 years. He has a son, a daughter and two granddaughters, 13 and 3. |
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April 2007 Faculty Star Award Candace Pierce, instructor of social sciences, is the recipient of the Susan K. Reid Award for Teaching Excellence for 2007 and is immediate past president of the Faculty Senate at Pulaski Technical College. “Candace is one of our most outstanding instructors and is to be commended for her commitment to Pulaski Technical College and to student success,” her colleagues wrote in nominating Pierce for the award. “Candace constantly seeks new ways to increase students’ learning and to help students exceed their own expectations. As Faculty Senate president, she did an excellent job in representing the faculty's interests and in keeping the channels of communication open with the administration.” |
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April 2007 Staff Star Award Amanda Coleman is the secretary of the Business Division at Pulaski Technical College. Her duties include assisting the Dean, faculty, students, and providing clerical support for the department. Amanda resides in Little Rock, AR and has two children, a son Scott (Freida), a daughter Chandra, and three grandsons Paul, Demetrius, and Malik. Amanda was formerly employed with Philips Lighting Company for twenty-eight years. The company closed and moved to Mexico. Instead of going immediately back into the work force, she decided to re-educate. She received a technical certificate in Medical Transcription from Pulaski Tech in December 1999. She became employed with Pulaski Tech in January 2000. She enjoys assisting students, especially the non-traditional students often encouraging them to keep trying. She is a strong believer in the value of education. She received an Associate of Applied Science from Pulaski Tech in May 2007. She is currently working on course work towards an Associate of Arts degree. |
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March 2007 Faculty Star Award Angie Macri is an Instructor of English and Chair of the English Department at Pulaski Technical College. Macri will soon be published as the featured Illinois poet in The Spoon River Poetry Review (http://www.litline.org/Spoon/). Macri’s poems have been published in national journals such as West Branch, Puerto del Sol, Louisiana Literature, Lullwater Review, The Chattahoochee Review and elsewhere. Macri graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (B.A., 1992). She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (M.A., 1994) and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (M.F.A., 1996). After working as a technical writer for the National Toxicology Program, Macri returned to teaching at Pulaski Technical College. Macri teaches composition, American literature, and creative writing, and she has been the chair of the PTC English Department for three years. She serves as a consulting editor for the college’s creative writing journal The View From Here and co-created and co-edits the academic writing journal Milestones. She lives in Little Rock with her husband Wade Derden and their children Jack, Jude, and Sidra Photo: Allen Loibner |
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March 2007 Staff Star Award Melinda Gaston is Controller in the Business Office at Pulaski Technical College where her duties include supervision of the areas of student accounts, accounts payable, payroll, and financial accounting and reporting. She and her husband, Gary, live in Conway. Gaston graduated from the University of Central Arkansas (B.A., Psychology, 1974) and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (M.S.E, Higher Education Administration with an emphasis in College Student Personnel, 1976). While in Monticello, Gaston took accounting classes as a diversion from the pre-school world of her children. In 1984, Gaston accepted a position as an Accountant with the University of Arkansas at Monticello. From 1988-1991, she was Director of Financial Aid at UAM, and was Controller at UAM from 1991-2000. Gaston became Controller at Pulaski Tech in July, 2000. |
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February 2007 Faculty Star Award DeAnna Davis began her education at Des Moines Area Community College. After receiving her certificate in Dental Assisting she transferred to the University of Central Arkansas to get her teaching degree in Health Occupations/Health Education with a minor in General Science. DeAnna taught in the Little Rock School District and at Petit Jean Vo-Tech, now UA Community College at Morrilton. After the birth of her son she was a stay at home mom until the dental assisting position opened at Pulaski Tech. DeAnna received her MEd in Adult Education from UALR and is currently the Director of Dental Assisting at Pulaski Tech. |
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February 2007 Staff Star Award Teresa Bearden |
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January 2007 Faculty Star Award Sandy Longhorn, Instructor of English Sandy Longhorn is an Instructor of English and the Coordinator of Composition II at Pulaski Technical College. She is currently launching Pulaski Tech's first Summer Writing Institute for Teens (SWIFT), to be held in July, 2007. Photo: George Byron Griffiths |
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January 2007 Staff Star Award Lennon Parker, Web Communication Specialist Lennon Parker was born and raised in southern California. In the mid 90’s he moved to Arkansas to pursue his education. Today, Lennon serves as the college Webmaster at Pulaski Technical College and president of the Staff Senate. Parker's duties include daily maintenance of the college Web site, photography services, college Intranet site, and technical and multimedia assistance. Parker also serves on the Pulaski Technical College Speakers’ Bureau in which he speaks about Internet and Cyber safety. Aside from his duties at Pulaski Technical College, Parker runs a successful independent Web design company that has been active for nearly ten years with several clients from the entertainment industry. Lennon’s Web design work has been featured nationally on television, such as VH1, MTV, and NBC. Locally, his work has been featured in the North Little Rock Times, Sherwood Voice, and the front page of Maumelle’s Living section newspapers. Parker also serves as a board member on the North Little Rock Chamber's Next Generation of Young Professionals. Currently, Parker is pursuing his education. His philosophy for success in life is to do the best you can where you are with what you have. |
