Join us in recognizing Lyndsay, Abraham, Jessica, Mike, Polly, Kati, Melissa, Kassy, Laura, Norma, Kari, Jennifer, Juan, Cynthia, Makenzie, Catherine, Chelsea and Katelyn!
Name: Lyndsay Tarrant
Core Values: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Reason: I met with a student today who was helped by Lyndsay previously. The student could not say enough nice things about Lyndsay. One of my favorite comments was, “I know I am in good hands when I go to campus and Lyndsay is there to help me. She listens to what I need and makes really good suggestions.” Lyndsay also is a valuable partner to me. She listens attentively, is always ready to help and definitely demonstrates the value of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at RCC! Thank you, Lyndsay, for being such a wonderful colleague!
Name: Abraham Reyes
Core Values: Collaboration
Reason: During winter registration and up to the first day of term (today), Abe has been an AMAZING support to help get business student questions answered and help them register for class. Abe goes above and beyond on a regular basis. He is always willing to share his professional and thoughtful insight when I am working with a student as a faculty advisor. Today, I met with a student who has been working with Abe for a few weeks. She said, “Abe is so knowledgeable. He pointed me to resources I didn’t even know about. I’m 40 and coming back to school has been a lot, but Abe has been so helpful.” I could not agree with this student more. Thanks, Abe, for being such an amazing collaborator! Because of YOU, many of our students are able to be successful.
Name: Jessica Jones
Core Values: Collaboration and Courage
Reason: Jessica is an incredible leader in the financial aid office. She has gone above and beyond to be available, listen openly, solve problems and provide timely updates during the many difficult transitions. Her responsiveness has been a beacon for morale and her work ethic is a measure of the department’s success in service.
Name: Mike Lauterio
Core Values: Collaboration
Reason: Today Mike spotted me on RWC and asked how I was doing. I responded that I was heading up to the gym to look at the large mirrors on wheels for an event that was taking place off campus. As an afterthought as I was trotting away, I added that if he had any ideas about transporting a mirror safely to please let me know. Next thing I knew, he joined me at the gym with ideas. I truly appreciate Mike’s positive attitude and willingness to help! Thank you!
Name: Polly Greist
Core Values: Collaboration
Reason: For as long as I have known Polly as a faculty member at RCC, I have witnessed her being a holistic educator and recognizing the need to help students acknowledge their mental health needs in order to be a successful student. She doesn’t stop at teaching them to be great writers, her job never ends with writing instruction. I truly believe she has saved lives by walking students over to the counselors and initiating a “soft handoff” to us. Students adore Polly and I appreciate her care, kindness and awareness of her students. Thank you, Polly, for bringing students in distress to the counseling team and for being an RCC team member.
Name: Kati Averyt
Core Values: Integrity; Collaboration; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Sustainability; and Courage
Reason: Kati has gone above and beyond ensuring that all of our payroll and HR needs have been handled with professionalism and care while operating as a one-woman show for the last year. Her positivity and “can do it” attitude make Kati an invaluable asset to RCC!
Name: Melissa Weast
Core Values: Collaboration and Courage
Reason: Melissa is a wonderful person to collaborate with. She is constantly trying to better the nursing department and RCC as a whole with great new ideas and is a blessing to work and chat with. She has helped not only myself, but so many nursing students over the years. We can only hope that some of her ideas come to fruition for the benefit of the college (all of them would be better)!
Name: Kassy Brooks
Core Values: Integrity and Collaboration
Reason: Kassy has done a great job of helping all of the people who work in the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs areas. I rely on her heavily to help with travel requests and POs. Thank you so much for your flexibility and willingness to assist with these things. We appreciate all you do!
Name: Laura Haga
Core Values: Integrity and Collaboration
Reason: Laura was so helpful to all of our high school counselors while they were ordering textbooks! Every school I went to at the start of winter term expressed how helpful Laura was in getting through these new processes. I really appreciate you helping out our high school counselors so that our high school students can be successful!
Name: Norma Pantoja
Core Values: Collaboration; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Sustainability
Reason: Norma Pantoja has assisted ESL/Spanish GED® in tag-teaming outreach efforts, sharing information to community partners and prospective students, assisting at our orientations and assisting me in creating a pipeline for ELLs who want to continue their studies at RCC after our pre-college education courses. She consistently advocates for collaboration and can see a vision for our Latinx students in ways others can’t. We are grateful in PCE that Norma is at RCC.
Name: Kari Brooks, Jennifer Burkes, Juan Rivera, Cynthia Greenberg and Makenzie Rodriguez
Core Values: Collaboration and Sustainability
Reason: The RCC Library stores our Pre-College Education Department equipment for students needing a laptop or WIFI to attend online classes. Our library staff is essential in being able to offer these resources to students in a timely manner, offer familiar faces for our students navigating an often new setting, are communicative with us when our equipment could use repairs and facilitates updates with our IT Department as RCC as well. They’ve also hired bilingual student employees at the RVC campus who have been key to assisting students with a language barrier with interpreting. Our students and PCE staff are grateful for your help!
Name: Catherine Whitsel, Chelsea Majkut and Katelyn Bender
Core Values: Collaboration
Reason: Catherine and her team assisted us when incorporating the RCC admissions application into our ESL/Spanish GED® orientation. Catherine identified issues around students in varied stages of JRM (the new RCC application system) and worked with us so we could figure out exactly how to assist our students stuck in the process. Their quick turnarounds, dedication to collaborating with us on these newly identified setbacks and strategizing solutions are what help us move forward by including our PCE students into RCC processes. We couldn’t have done that without you!