WVC employees recognized

Outstanding faculty and staff members at Wenatchee Valley College were recognized by colleagues and the WVC Foundation at an awards ceremony on June 14, 2011.

Angie Russell of Leavenworth, math faculty member, received the Linda Schultz Herzog Faculty Member of the Year Award; Pam Kelley of Wenatchee, assistant to the dean of instruction, was given the Outstanding Exempt Employee Award, sponsored by the WVC Foundation; and Rhonda Yenney of Wenatchee, secretary for allied health sciences, was presented the Outstanding Classified Staff Member of the Year Award, sponsored by the Alcoa Foundation.

The Anna Pieratt Spirit of Wenatchee Valley College Award was presented to Jan Kaiser of Wenatchee, allied health faculty member. This award honors an individual or group who has demonstrated the spirit exemplified by Anna Pieratt when she served as executive assistant to the president.

English faculty member Derek Sheffield of Leavenworth was given the Alcoa Excellence in Teaching Award, which is a $1,500 grant from the Alcoa Foundation for educational program enhancement. The funds will be used for a visiting writers project to enhance student learning.

Service awards were presented to employees who reached a milestone in their number of years of service at Wenatchee Valley College.

Sandy Cooprider of Wenatchee, a physical education faculty member, was recognized with a framed plaque for 40 years at WVC, which also included teaching in the social sciences, coaching football and directing athletics. A 30-year service award was presented to Kit Arbuckle of Okanogan, math and computers faculty member at the Omak campus. A tree will be planted on the Wenatchee campus in honor of Imgard Pfaller of Leavenworth, program assistant in the instruction office, for 25 years of service.

Gold WVC pins for 20 years of service were presented to Marco Azurdia of Wenatchee, vice president of student development; Pam Kelley of Wenatchee, assistant to the dean of instruction; Ann Tyrrell of Wenatchee, admissions supervisor; and Linda Visser of East Wenatchee, nursing faculty member.

Framed certificates for 15 years of service went to Ross Hay of Monitor, information technology specialist; Dan Nelson of East Wenatchee, electrician; and Vicki Turner of Malott, workforce development faculty member at the Omak campus.

Framed certificates for 10 years of service went to David Burns of Wenatchee, computer technology faculty member; Juanita Gaytan of Wenatchee, custodian; and Bruce Merighi of Leavenworth, safety officer.

Two additional faculty members were recognized. One retiree, adult basic education faculty member Sharon Martin of Dryden was honored. A special remembrance speech was given for Rae Dana, art instructor, who passed away last year.