Jefferson College Foundation Honors Faculty/Staff Achievements

In conjunction with faculty and staff opening week activities in preparation for a new academic year, the Jefferson College Foundation recently presented its annual Outstanding Achievement Awards. The recognition honors the exemplary accomplishments of faculty and staff who are nominated from the college’s three employee constituent groups.

2013 Outstanding Achievement Award recipients include:

Betty Dye, Certified Staff –Cyber Advisor and VA Certifying Official

Dr. Scott Holzer, Faculty –History Professor

Nick Nihira, Faculty – Art Assistant Professor

Nicole Rees, Classified Staff – Records Assistant II

Dye is a Jefferson College alum and has been employed at the college since 2002. She has advised students from around the world, assisted students and staff with technology challenges, and aided those students who have served our country through military service. She has served on numerous campus committees and her personal achievements include initiation of the Online Course Schedule in cooperation with the Computer Services Department, creation and oversight of the ARC (Advising and Retention Center) tab and Veterans Services tab within the college’s STARS internal communication portal, playing an instrumental role in the implementation of AdvisorTrac software, and teaching the class “Mastering the College Experience.”

Holzer has taught at Jefferson College since 1997. He is the Dual Enrollment Coordinator for the History Department and serves on the Tenure Appeals Committee. He also served on the Academic Affairs Committee for six years and was the chairman twice. He has served as advisor for Phi Theta Kappa (the college’s honor society) and for Habitat for Humanity. Holzer received the 2003 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award, was twice the Phi Theta Kappa Teacher of the Year (2004-05 and 2012-13), was named the Student Senate Faculty Member of the Year in 2005-06, and was the 2012-13 recipient of the Governor’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Nihira attended Jefferson College as an Art major and began teaching in an adjunct capacity in 2004 before being employed as a full-time instructor in 2007. He creates painting, collages, and digital works that are predominantly abstract while utilizing representational images as supporting compositional elements, and works with a range of traditional, digital and found media. He is a recent recipient of the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award.

Rees is a Jefferson College alum who was a student worker in the Arts and Sciences division from 2005 until she graduated with her Associate of Arts degree in 2007 and was employed on a full-time basis in Student Services. She is currently the vice president/president-elect for the Classified Staff constituent group and is a member of the Schedule Review Team. Her colleagues appreciate her enthusiasm, positive attitude, and consistent willingness to help others.

Each Outstanding Achievement Award recipient was recognized by Jefferson College Foundation Board Vice President Rick Vest and Executive Director of Development and Foundation Tom Burke with a plaque and a $250 stipend. The recipients’ names will also be displayed on the Foundation Honor Roll in the Administration Building lobby on the Hillsboro campus.

To be eligible, faculty nominees must demonstrate intellectual vigor and communication skills in the interpretation and presentation of subject matter; promote positive morale through a congenial, supportive attitude toward students and peers; exhibits initiative, innovation and creativity resulting in improved learning and comprehension; demonstrates concern for and sensitivity to the needs of students and others; appears to leave a favorable and lasting influence on students; puts forth an effort to improve self as well as to develop and recognize others; and enhances the image of the department and/or college.

Nominees for staff recognition must demonstrate excellence in overall work performance; promote positive morale through a congenial, supportive attitude and by providing service to others; put forth an effort to improve self as well as to develop and recognize others; exhibit initiative, innovation and creativity resulting in improved operating efficiency of a work unit or the college as a whole; enhance the image of the department and/or college; and be a full-time employee of the college for at least five years.

Since 1991, the Jefferson College Foundation has actively encouraged private contributions to assist the college in areas such as capital projects, program development, and providing financial support to students that traditional funding alone often do not support.

During the 2012-13 fiscal year, the Foundation awarded $35,178 in scholarships and $13,310 in emergency loans or grants to students in need of financial assistance. Without the Foundation’s help, many of these students would have dropped out due to their inability to pay, and would not have achieved the life-enhancing goal of a higher education.