Distinguished Staff, Part-Time Faculty Among College Honorees

Pennsylvania College of Technology presented "Distinguished Staff" and "Part-Time Teaching Excellence" awards Thursday, additionally recognizing this year's retirees and the newest inductees into the college's Quarter Century Club.

"On behalf of our entire Penn College community students, faculty, staff and administration I want to thank all the individuals recognized today for setting a standard by which we all can work and live," President Davie Jane Gilmour said during an all-college meeting to end the Spring 2007 semester. "These individuals set the bar high for all of us."



For more than a decade, Distinguished Staff Awards have honored the contributions and commitment of Penn College's full-time employees, who are nominated by their co-workers. Awards traditionally have been presented to one employee from each of the college's three staff classifications: APT (Administrative, Professional and Technical), Classified and Service. Beginning this year, the honor roll was expanded to include part-time employees.

Awards were presented to Jean M. Bremigen, library operations manager, APT; Gloria J. Hackenburg, secretary to the directors of occupational therapy assistant/surgical technology, Classified; Andrea L. Mull, horticulture/motorpool lead person, Service; and Carol E. Hall, part-time food service assistant.

Jean M. Bremigen
Bremigen began her employment with the college in 1995 as secretary to the School of Business and Computer Technologies, and, prior to her present position, also served as secretary to the library director and full-time library operations specialist.

"She has always displayed a can-do attitude that ensures the smooth daily running of the library," one of her nominators wrote. "She has always been the 'go-to' person for library staff, who feel reassured when she is here." Bremigen was credited by co-workers as one of the leaders in the successful transition to the college's new Madigan Library, ordering the Brodart furnishings including 17,000 linear feet of shelving.

Another nominator noted, "Her problem-solving abilities and her 'college knowledge' are such great gifts to the library."

Gloria J. Hackenburg
Hackenburg returned last year to the college, where she originally worked from 1988-98 in a variety of positions that included full-time secretary to the division director (and later dean) of health sciences. In the intervening years, she held a number of jobs in the fields of law and banking, and with the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

"Gloria performs a magic that makes the person requesting help whether that be employees or the public seem to be the only person she serves at that moment," a nominator said. "Every caller can hear her smile, and has no question that her attention is sincere and warm." Another said: "Gloria loves Penn College and treats this environment as warmly as her own family. Her gratitude and love for this institution shine through all of her work."

Andrea L. Mull
Mull has been employed at the college since 1988, when she began as a groundskeeper, and subsequently has worked as a horticulture technician and horticulturist.

"While maintaining the indoor plantscapes, Andrea has been known to stop what she's doing to attend to a more pressing need outdoors, field questions from college staff and students, and return to her previous tasks without skipping a beat "¦ and always with a friendly and positive attitude," said one of her nominators.

An example of her creativity can be seen in the impressive water feature at the entrance to the Madigan Library, which was referred to in another nominator's statement, "Her perseverance and positive attitude were vital to ensure the completion of a project of this magnitude."

"We work in all types of conditions "¦ extreme summer heat, rainstorms, freezing temperatures and deep snow," her nomination continues. "Andrea's enthusiasm for her work rarely wavers. Her determination and motivation have far exceeded expectations."

Carol E. Hall
This year's inaugural part-time honoree has worked in college Food Services since 2000.

"Carol never hesitates to give a helping hand whenever she is needed," one of her colleagues said. "She is always willing to tackle any challenge before her. She is someone who can always be counted on."

"She's very friendly, very supportive," another wrote. "She will always dig right in and give us a hand. She goes wherever she is needed and never complains."

Honored for excellence in part-time teaching were Michaeleen G. "Mickey" McNamara, instructor of psychology, and Bruce A. Wehler, instructor of English/speech communication.

McNamara became an adjunct faculty member in 2004, adding to 35 years in health care and counseling. Her student nominator applauded her ethics, credibility, accessibility and passion, stating: "Mickey has so much respect for the profession of teaching because she's so passionate about her work. I would love to see her get this award for all the dedication she has put into teaching and in her field."

Wehler, who also is an English/special education/alternative education teacher in the Loyalsock Township School District, has taught at Penn College since 1990.

A construction carpentry student who nominated him for the award said: "I could hardly believe how practical the material in this course was to me. His entire class was designed to make the individual student as ready as possible for any number of real-world experiences.

"The material was everything I needed to know that I didn't necessarily know I needed to know."

Retiring during the 2006-07 academic year were Scott B. Appleman, instructor of diesel equipment technology;Robert G. Bowers, mathematics professor; Rose C. Fagnano, substitute food service worker; Emerson R. Fairfax Jr., police officer; Leonard R. Filipkowski, associate professor of collision repair; Hortencia I. Garcia, assistant professor of mathematics; Wayne R. Longbrake, dean of natural resources management; Kathie E. Morr Longbrake, dean of health sciences; Veronica M. Muzic, special assistant to the president for academic affairs, and former provost/vice president for academic affairs; Anthony L. Nieli, associate professor of computer science; Thomas C. Shoff, counselor; Dianne L. Spiegel, Le Jeune Chef/catering accounting assistant; Glenn R. Spoerke, curriculum specialist, Outreach K-12; William H. Sprinsky, associate professor of civil engineering technology; Charles J. Tacka, regular part-time food services worker; and Paul Zell Jr., assistant professor of diesel equipment technology.

The newest Quarter Century Club members (honored for 25 years of service to the college) are Adelle M. Dotzel, assistant professor of mathematics; Glenda D. Ferguson, secretary to the dean of transportation technology; Judy A. Fink, manager of Web design; Ruth E. Hameetman, instructor of business administration; Connie L. Hull, data control assistant; Sandra Lakey, associate professor of speech communication/composition; Tom Livingstone, associate professor of machine tool technology/automated manufacturing; Steve T. McDonald, coordinator of instructional technology/technical training; Jenny M. Maurer, library technical services manager; Judy L. Phillips, mail/document services office aide; Bruce M. Smith, electronics instructor; and Alan L. Vittorio, third-shift custodian.