Extra Effort Awards – April 24, 2020
Megan Bukaty, Administrative Assistant – Nominated by Stephanie Belford
Megan is still new to JCCC having joined our team in January, but her efforts have already made such a positive impact in the Health Occupations Department. She has gone above and beyond to provide clear communication, reassurance, guidance and updated information to students, faculty, and other departments across campus as we are navigating our way through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Megan has spent countless hours communicating with various state licensing agencies, clinical facilities, high schools, and nearby colleges to provide supplemental testing locations, employment opportunities, alternative course completion options, and resources for students whose classes were halted or postponed. In addition, she has had to make multiple changes and updates to credit classes and instruction schedules to provide an opportunity for all students to complete the clinical requirements needed for their CNA license. Megan shows up every day with new ideas, a positive attitude, and a smile on her face.
Sasha Edelman, Administrative Assistance Science Division – Nominated by Jennifer Menon Parker
Sasha has been outstanding in the flawless redesign of our schedules from face to face and hybrid to the current all online format as dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic. No request has been too great. She has coordinated Zoom meetings for interviews, class schedules, faculty meetings, and one-on-one sit downs. She is always cheerful and eager to please.
Nominated by Lori Slavin
Sasha has been amazing during this time of transition. She has provided unlimited support to students, staff and faculty. She has repeatedly gone above and beyond in solving problems and assisting in whatever capacity needed. I am so thankful that she works for the Science Division. We are very lucky to have her.
Claire Ehney, Manger HCDC – Nominated by Mary Thibault
Claire has been working tirelessly to keep staff, families, supporting agencies and college personnel up to date on all that is happening. She has been very supportive on a personal note to help everyone who needs it. I am grateful to have such a caring and supporting Manager.
Lisa Gates, Benefits Specialist – Nominated by Diane Jarvi
When the open enrollment period began, I could not access the benefits site. Lisa and I exchanged many emails and I’m sure she spent many hours trying to rectify the situation. She always responded quickly and was extremely gracious and helpful.
Judi Guzzy, Professor, Technical Services Librarian – Nominated by Mary Wisgirda, Dean of Math and Science
Judi found a treasure trove of high-quality science videos that faculty were immediately able to incorporate into their classes. They will be used in our summer classes and will really support online instruction. I greatly appreciate her diligence and commitment!
Chris Horvat, Senior Videographer/Editor – Nominated by Libby Kleve
During the switch to an online class format, Chris jumped in without hesitation to assist the Ed Tech department and has been working daily with individual faculty and staff members to help ensure they are comfortable with using Canvas, Zoom, Yuja and more. He and another Video Services team member, Lori Nickell, have also partnered with the Ed Tech team to conduct research on webinar and Zoom meeting best practices by other colleges and universities. He has been providing this assistance in addition to his daily role of senior videographer/editor for the Video Services department and has needed to put in a great deal of extra time in order to do so.
Tonia Hughes, Acting Chair and Associate Professor – Nominated by Bridget Stewart, Diane Jarvi, and Mary Wessel
There are not enough words of praise to describe the great job that Tonia Hughes as done in this Spring of Great Stress. Tonia was tasked becoming the Acting chair of the Fine Arts, Photography and film department in the Spring of 2020. She took on the day to day running of the Department including making sure schedules were kept, budgets, were managed, classrooms, and equipment were kept in good shape, orders were placed, reports were filed, students were taken care of, and faculty were respected and given the support they needed. She did all this with great aplomb all the while she was teaching her own schedule of classes. Plus, Tonia, has been an integral part of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion committee as well as the Shared Governance Academic Branch Committee at JCCC. She has taken on all these commitments with intelligence, energy and empathy. Then came COVID-19. When the order came quickly that JCCC would be shutting down and classes would be going on-line, Tonia did not skip a beat. She kept the faculty informed with as much information as she had, even as it changed hour to hour. Tonia immediately began calling other institutions, gathering information on-line and consulting with as many people as possible to start collecting resources and ideas for the faculty as well all stumbled forward into this new normal. She continually checked in with the faculty and staff offering information, support, a good laugh and virtual hugs to help keep everyone calm and feeling empowered.
Tonia has worked passionately to make the Photography and film Department in the JCCC Department of Art first-rate programs. She has worked tirelessly to create fair and transparent working conditions for the JCCC faculty. And she has worked vigorously to ensure the inclusion and equal treatment of all people at JCCC.
Karen Koehn, Lab Coordinator, Science Division – Nominated by Lori Slavin
Karen has gone above and beyond in helping during this transition. She is always available and responds in a timely manner which is crucial during this unprecedented time. I know I can always depend on Karen to help me with any given situation. She is very deserving of this award.
Lori Nickell, Videographer/Editor – Nominated by Libby Kleve
Though a member of the Video Services department, Lori has been working directly with the Ed Tech team to help ensure a smooth transition for faculty and staff as everything has moved online. She has worked daily to assist individual faculty and staff members with training on Yuja, Zoom, Canvas and more. She and another Video Services team member, Chris Horvat, have also been working with the Ed Tech team to conduct research on webinar and Zoom meeting best practices and techniques by other colleges and universities. Lori has done everything in addition to her role as videographer/editor for the Video Services department, and it has required her to make a significant extra time investment.
MargE Shelley, Asst. Dean – Enrollment Management – Nominated by Alisa Bentley
MargE has been a huge reason the refund appeals process has gone seamlessly for students. With her dedication and work ethic, most appeals have been approved in less than 24-48 hours, which is a HUGE accomplishment working remotely. MargE is the epitome of why JCCC is so special – it’s people like her!
Christal Williams, Director, Financial Aid – Nominated by Alisa Bentley
Wow – Christal Williams. Does the woman EVER sleep? She has single-handedly streamlined the CARES Act process and made money available to students in unprecedented time. She also helps with the tuition refund appeals when students have financial aid. Her response is fast and precise, and this woman knows her stuff. I am proud to work with her. Our students deserve the best and Christal is the BEST in her field.
CE Registration Staff: Jill Carr, Jennie Baugher, Jared Anderson and Susan Elliott – Nominated by Teresa Schmitz
The CE Registration Staff has utilized Microsoft Teams in an efficient manner, allowing for a seamless transition from actual to virtual office experience. Working with all program areas on a variety of requests, such as; generating full refunds to students for cancelled courses, partial refunds for courses that cannot be completed, transferring students to rescheduled or virtual online courses, or assisting students with questions via email and informing them of new online options available, they have performed these and other tasks in a highly professional and positive manner.