More than 300 area residents and dignitaries gathered Saturday, May 9, 2009 at the Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa to honor eight recipients of the 2009 Awards For Excellence presented by Estrella Mountain Community College and Glendale Community College in conjunction with the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation.
Dr. Ruby Gordon, one of the first two faculty members when Glendale Community College (GCC) launched its nursing program in 1965, received a standing ovation when she was presented the Special Award for Excellence in recognition of a career that spanned more than 50 years in nursing, health education and student counseling. "My award tells me mine was a job well done," Dr. Gordon said. "It's an internal kind of a feeling."
Each college awarded an Outstanding Community Partner Award for Excellence. Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) honored CORE Construction for the company's dedicated efforts as a community partner to improve quality of life in the construction of educational, industrial and a variety of other structures. The company constructed portions of the GCC North Campus and served as the top-level $10,000 platinum sponsor for the recognition dinner and gala. Company executive Shawn Maurer accepted the award of behalf of the organization. GCC recognized Banner Health, the state's largest healthcare provider, for its long-standing partnership with GCC in support of nursing education. Accepting the award on behalf of Banner Health was Karin Toci, chief nursing officer for Banner Estrella Hospital.
GCC honored the 60-member, all-volunteer Glendale Fire Department Crisis Response Team, which provides support to community members dealing with emotions resulting from traumatic events such as the loss of a home to fire or the unexpected death of a family member, for the Distinguished Service Award for Excellence. "I think a lot of people don't realize this service exists," said Lynette Jelinek, Human Services Division manager for the Glendale Fire Department, who accepted the award on behalf of the team. "We do the right things for the right reasons, and then to get an award for that was way above and beyond, anything we ever expected."
EMCC English instructor, Alexander Andrews and GCC Admissions and Advisement Specialist, April Orr, each received a Student Advocate Award of Excellence from their respective colleges. Andrews encouraged other educators to look at their students in a holistic way and "realize how much of a difference they can make in students' lives." He noted a difference can be made in the short span of a single class. Orr said having "great mentors and great leadership" as a student at Maryvale High School and later at GCC provided her the encouragement to complete her schooling. Becoming a GCC employee - specifically helping to guide students through the nursing program - allowed her to give back to those who supported her.
Each college also presented an Outstanding Alumni Award of Excellence. EMCC presented its alumni award to Reyes Medrano Jr., Tolleson city manager and an adjunct faculty member who teaches courses in business and psychology at the college. Medrano stated in a smaller community such as Tolleson, the entire community celebrates when a resident is singled out for recognition. The same, he said, is true with his relationship with EMCC. "I didn't terminate my relationship with Estrella Mountain after graduation," Medrano said. "During my educational pursuits from my associate degree all the way through my master's, Estella Mountain provided the venue for me to expedite my educational pursuits." GCC presented its Outstanding Alumni Award of Excellence to Dr. John Thompson, an orthopedic surgeon who played for the school's 1988 national championship football team and serves as president of the GCC Alumni Association. "Glendale Community College inspires people to do good things, and they, in turn, become big parts of this community," Dr. Thompson said, noting his experience as a board member of the college's alumni association reinforced that belief."
Each of these honorees is an exceptional contributor to the betterment of our communities and the students who are advancing their college educations through their support," GCC President Velvie Green and EMCC President Ernest Lara, Ph.D., said in a joint announcement of the winners. "We are pleased to honor these individuals and organizations and welcome the attendance of the business community, alumni, students, faculty and others at the awards event."