At All College Day in August, Collin College will announce its winners of the full- and part-time Recognition Of Service and Excellence (ROSE) awards given annually to two staff members. Cougar News is featuring the ROSE award finalists.
Gary Hodge
Dean of social and behavioral sciences
Q. There are always small things that make one’s job interesting or worthwhile. What minute aspects of your job do you get the most joy out of?
A. What I probably enjoy most is just the daily interaction in my division office. I keep my door open at all times and I enjoy when faculty and students come in the office. It brings me a lot of satisfaction to hear administrative assistant Sharyn Art and assistant to the dean Ruth Payton as they help people. They never send anyone out of the office without helping them. Sharyn and Ruth each go way “above and beyond” to assist everyone. Their hard work and dedication inspire me.
Q. As a ROSE Award finalist, you’ve been acknowledged for going the extra step in one way or another. What is your approach or philosophy toward your job?
A. I believe we should always treat each person with dignity and respect, and always strive for excellence. I try my best to stop and take the time to work with each individual to the best of my ability. I want to know that I did everything in my power to resolve in a positive manner whatever challenge or question I face. I once saw a sign on a patient’s hospital room at M.D. Anderson that said, “Every day I am alive is gravy.” I try to remember that anytime I get frustrated or feel stuck in a routine. I want to leave the college every single day knowing that I did my best work.
Russell (Rusty) Bishop
Full-time staff interpreter
Q. There are always small things that make one’s job interesting or worthwhile. What minute aspects of your job do you get the most joy out of?
A. It is a difficult task to imagine situations more interesting, enlightening, or rewarding as those in which my hands conduct a rhythmic visual symphony. As a full-time sign language interpreter, working intimately with professors and deaf students provides just such an opportunity. Dreams find realization. Working closely with our inimitably esteemed faculty elicits joy that transcends the walls of academia and worldly wealth, affording me ample opportunity to share that wealth of knowledge and experience with students, coworkers, and the community. An interpreter can be more aptly described as a “liaison of learning,” assisting the students and professors as a copilot for success. It is here where satisfaction of service expands its bounds.
Q. As a ROSE Award finalist, you’ve been acknowledged for going the extra step in one way or another. What is your approach or philosophy toward your job?
A. The Collin College rule of treating others’ education as we would our own has always spearheaded my decision-making process. Besides life, liberty, and family, few priorities carry greater significance than education for most people. Our ultimate wish for our students is that they achieve their goals and witness their dreams come to life. If we rise each morning with that singular thought in mind, that our students’ education is our education, then we will never falter. We will rejoice in the rise of the next great generation, brought up under our tutelage, and bask in their achievements, for their triumphs are ours.
Charlene Johnson
Administrative assistant
Q. There are always small things that make one’s job interesting or worthwhile. What minute aspects of your job do you get the most joy out of?
A. The one thing in particular is seeing nursing students for the first time at orientation and then seeing them at graduation or pinning. They come in nervous, a little scared and not knowing what to expect, but anxious and excited to be here. I often assure them that the hardest part is over and that is the acceptance. Motivating and encouraging each of them to excel to do their best and never giving up on their dreams. I often tell them the world needs people like you who care to make a difference and no matter what happens today there will be a better tomorrow. My firm principles and integrity displays a positive first impression to the students as well as faculty and staff. Keeping the department organized and efficient is a priority. I take pride in what I do and I enjoy my job very much.
Q. As a ROSE Award finalist, you’ve been acknowledged for going the extra step in one way or another. What is your approach or philosophy toward your job?
A. This is my daily approach. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
J’Anna Mann
Administrative assistant
Q. There are always small things that make one’s job interesting or worthwhile. What minute aspects of your job do you get the most joy out of?
A. There are so many aspects of my job that I look forward to everyday. One of the things I enjoy the most is the relationships that I’ve built over time at Collin College. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some amazing, dedicated and compassionate people in my more than 15 years at Collin. Collin has always felt like a “team” trying to achieve the same goal. Our goal is to help students achieve academic success while utilizing our core values. It’s easy to work with “team members” who are as dedicated, caring and compassionate as fellow Collin employees.
Q. As a ROSE Award finalist, you’ve been acknowledged for going the extra step in one way or another. What is your approach or philosophy toward your job?
A. My approach is very simple: I’m here to help. I want anyone who walks into my office to feel like their concerns, questions or problems are handled with respect, courtesy and concern. I love working in an education atmosphere and it brings me great satisfaction knowing that I did my part in helping Collin College make a difference in the lives of our students.
Carole Ann Kaplan
Testing Center clerk
Q. There are always small things that make one’s job interesting or worthwhile. What minute aspects of your job do you get the most joy out of?
A. I get the most joy when a student returns to the testing center, having done poorly on initial testing, and proves on returning with much improved scores that he/she is a capable student.
Q. As a ROSE Award finalist, you’ve been acknowledged for going the extra step in one way or another. What is your approach or philosophy toward your job?
Q. Spending my entire professional career in education, being a staff member with the Preston Ridge Campus testing team is an extension of a career I’ve loved. My philosophy toward my job at Preston Ridge is no different than when I was a classroom teacher or a guidance counselor. The student, the person, always comes first before I can begin to do my job however my job is defined. The Preston Ridge Campus Testing Center is very student-oriented and, therefore, my approach fits in nicely with that of the entire team.
Leonorah Whitehead
Clerk typist
Q. There are always small things that make one’s job interesting or worthwhile. What minute aspects of your job do you get the most joy out of?
A. I enjoy the interactions with the students, faculty and staff every day I am at work.
Q. As a ROSE Award finalist, you’ve been acknowledged for going the extra step in one way or another. What is your approach or philosophy toward your job?
Q. Smiling! I know when I come to work I have the opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives. During my time at Collin College I have met many individuals and hope that my helpful and upbeat attitude has made a small difference in their day.
Gloria Tyler
Administrative assistant
Q. There are always small things that make one’s job interesting or worthwhile. What minute aspects of your job do you get the most joy out of?
A. I love watching students when they congregate in the Collin Higher Education Center atrium. They make me smile and feel young. Helping students find a lost item is also worthwhile, especially when we find the lost item, and I love the smiles and looks of appreciation when visitors or students first come to the Collin Higher Education Center.
Q. As a ROSE Award finalist, you’ve been acknowledged for going the extra step in one way or another. What is your approach or philosophy toward your job?
A. First of all, I like to smile at people. I think it makes them feel comfortable about asking a question or needing help with something. I believe in treating every situation or request on a personal basis whether it’s my job or not. If I have the answer, that’s great, but if I don’t, then I try to find the person who can help them.
All College Day in August, Collin College will announce its winners of the full- and part-time Recognition Of Service and Excellence (ROSE) awards given annually to two staff members. Below are all of the nominees. Thank you to those who submitted a nomination.
Full-time staff Part-time staff
Reba Bartel Carole Ann Kaplan
Russell (Rusty) Bishop Karen Long
Melissa Blackmore Gloria Tyler
Bill Blitt Leonora (Leah) Whitehead
Deborah R. Collins
Rebecca Crowell
Debbie Dunn
Mary Jane Gibbons
Rose Guerra
Lori Haberberger
Lacey Henderson
Diana Hickman-Platt
Jeramie Hicks
Gary Hodge
Kerry Jeffrey
Charlene Johnson
Joel Kiser
J’Anna Mann
Keyona McClellan
Mae C. Nicholls
Natalya Pitts
Rebecca (Beckie) Robbirds
Katye Rutledge
Elaine Stewart
Glenda Strange
Natalie Tuggle
Sammi Woodyard
Vicki Woolverton