College Presents Awards to Distinguished Staff, Part-Time Faculty

Honoring the contributions of its employees, Pennsylvania College of Technology today presented Distinguished Staff and Part-Time Teaching Excellence Awards while recognizing new members of the college's Quarter-Century Club and recent retirees.

The Distinguished Staff Awards honor the contributions and commitment of Penn College's employees, who are nominated by their co-workers. The awards are presented to one employee from each of the college's three staff classifications − APT (Administrative, Professional and Technical), Classified and Service − as well as a regular part-time employee.



Distinguished Staff Awards were presented to Barbara A. Danko, director of alumni relations, APT; Molly J. Steele-Schrimp, secretary to the vice president for academic affairs/provost, Classified; Larry E. Shields, motorpool mechanic assistant, Service; and Linda L. Kepner, regular part-time PBX operator/receptionist.

Danko has been with the college since 1980, when she was hired as coordinator for outreach programs. Other positions she has held include director of lifelong education, director of staff communication and development, and manager of credit and noncredit distance learning.

"Barb possibly is one of the most enthusiastic people I have ever met," her principal nominator wrote. "Whether it is for alumni events, finding lost alumni, making a link for two alumni or just talking to alumni, she exhibits a love for her position and the people she deals with that is quite obvious."

Another nominator wrote: "Barb is very proficient at engaging the alumni of Penn College. She is constantly searching for new and different ways to involve alumni and increase the numbers of alumni that actively support the institution." Another wrote, "Her work ethic is beyond reproach, always putting the college in a position to be recognized for the great work we do in all departments."

Steele-Schrimp was hired by the college in 2002 as secretary to the assistant dean of business and computer technologies. She has also served as secretary to the vice president for student affairs.

Of Steele-Schrimp, her principal nominator wrote: "Molly does not hesitate to share her knowledge and expertise with all of us on the floor and throughout the college; she is always looking for opportunities to learn new skills and always willing to share her experience and skills."

Another nominator wrote: "Molly's position requires a very strong commitment to high standards and quality, and she shows this commitment each and every day. She is the most self-disciplined person I know, as she juggles her family commitments, class work and her job effortlessly."

Shields has been employed at the college since 2002.

His principal nominator wrote: "Larry has the ability to meet employee needs in a consistently helpful and courteous manner, while working cooperatively with others as part of a team. He displays a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently, while working with minimal supervision."

Another nominator wrote: "I have seen Larry perform very efficiently, in an excellent manner, under sometimes very difficult time constraints to keep equipment operational. "¦ His level of ambition and attention to detail makes him a very worthy candidate for this honor."

Kepner has worked for the college in various capacities and time frames since 1978, when she began as a substitute clerical worker.

Other positions she has held are substitute totwatch supervisor; substitute relief switchboard operator; part-time secretary, career exploration for women; temporary full-time clerk typist, student records; clerk typist, financial aid; casual part-time clerk typist, cataloging services; temporary regular part-time keypunch operator; temporary secretary, practical nursing; part-time secretary, dean of administration; temporary secretary, transportation technology; full-time PBX operator/receptionist and relief; and regular part-time shipping/receiving and supplies worker.

Kepner's principal nominator wrote of her: "She is a natural "˜people person.' She genuinely cares about others, and it shows when she is talking to someone or speaking with a caller to the college. "¦ I don't think we could have anyone better representing our school to the public."

Another nominator wrote: "Linda always offers a smile and a kind word. She genuinely enjoys helping others, no matter who they are, and will always go out of her way if she can be of service."

Part-Time Teaching Excellence Awards were presented to Barbara J. Natell, director of occupational therapy assistant and associate professor (who also teaches occupational therapy assistant part time), and Jennifer C. Yeager, part-time instructor of French and Spanish.

Natell began her Penn College employment in 1986, developing the occupational therapy assistant program and multiple curriculum revisions over 21 years. Previously, she was employed full time at Williamsport Hospital and Medical Center in occupational therapy services, serving as interim department director from 1983-86. She also has provided occupational-therapy and supervisory services on a part-time/per-diem basis for a number of health-care and related organizations since 1990. She holds a master's degree in education from Wilkes University and a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from SUNY Buffalo.

Of Natell, her student nominator wrote, "Barb is a high-energy, competent teacher (who) always encourages us to look beyond the books when we are studying. ... She is patient, understanding, open-minded, extremely intelligent, competent, fair to all, forgiving, fun, exciting, animated and, most of all, she loves all of us and wants us to be the best we possibly can."

Yeager has taught at Penn College since 2006. Previously, she worked for Williamsport Area School District as a high school French and Spanish teacher, an interpreter and tutor, and an adult evening school instructor; at Lycoming College as an adjunct instructor of French, Spanish and education; at the University of Alabama as an instructor for a pilot program in the French department; and at Pearson's Academy, Tuscaloosa, Ala., as an instructor for the primary and elementary French program.

She holds a Pennsylvania master's equivalency teaching certificate and received a bachelor of science in education from the University of Alabama. She has done graduate-level study at Bloomsburg University, Marywood University, The Pennsylvania State University and Slippery Rock University.

Yeager's student nominator wrote of her: "She is very energetic and enthusiastic about teaching. She makes the class so interesting. "¦ The hour and a half flies by as though it were 20 minutes. I can't get enough of this class!"

The 2007-08 retirees are: Edward M. Boal, custodian; Nancy L. Breauchy, food services worker; Larry W. Emery Jr., counselor; Shirley S. Frelin, food services worker; Joan Groff, food services worker; Peter Hellermann, general manager, Le Jeune Chef Restaurant; Steven P. Hirsch, assistant professor, advertising art; John J. Kehoe, director of strategic planning and research; Paul M. Renninger, food services worker; Irwin H. Siegel, professor of business administration/business law; Karen W. Tyler, secretary to financial operations; James L. Williams Sr., network specialist; and Karen A. Wilson Bodine, disability services specialist.

The May 2008 Quarter-Century Club inductees (those with 25 or more years of service to the college) are: Nancy C. Bowers, associate professor of mathematics; Linda D. Cheyney, secretary to the director of North Campus outreach services; Ann Marie Furdock, associate professor of biology; Linda D. Huffman, custodian; Kenneth J. Knaus, building maintenance worker, North Campus; William J. Martin, senior vice president; Jack D. Murphy, associate professor of mathematics; Michael J. Stanzione, director of athletics; Jocelyn T. Thomas, advisement center specialist I; and Karen W. Tyler; secretary to financial operations.

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