South Plains College held their 41st Annual Employee Recognition Banquet at the Physical Education Complex in Levelland, Thursday.
Opening the event, Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Stan DeMerritt began with the master of ceremonies.
Executive Director of the Lubbock Center Dr. Ben Alexander proceeded with the invocation and President of SPC Dr. Robin Satterwhite gave the welcome and introductions.
Announcing the recognition of faculty receiving tenure was Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ryan Gibbs.
It was explained that the concept of academic tenure recognizes the professional status of the college teacher. Tenure exists so that the college may benefit from competent and capable teachers. At SPC, tenure us designed to accomplish the following purposes: - assist the administration by providing sound standards for original selection of faculty members; - to retain, encourage and promote the most able and most promising faculty members; - to assure the faculty of security of tenure; - and to assure the faculty of freedom of teaching, of research and of opinion.
It was explained that tenure is obtained only after a period of probationary service. It is also granted by action of the South Plains College Board of Regents.
Effective Fall of 2023, the recipients of the honor were: Joanna Byrne, Industrial Technology; Robert Cloud, Creative Arts; Julianna Harris, Behavioral Science; Morgan Keener. Behavioral Science; Diana Malone, Professional Service and Energy; Andrea McCourt, Behavioral Science; T. Wheeler Osborne, Industrial Technology; Elaine Ramzinski, College Literacy and Education; Kristin Reichelt, Professional Service and Energy; Sarah Reid, Industrial Technology; Sherley Rios, Behavioral Science; Daphanie Shelby, Professional Service and Energy; Terry Stucker, Industrial Technology; and Tisha Tappudu, Professional Service and Energy.
Dr. Gibbs also moved forward with announcing the faculty that received promotions in rank.
He explained that faculty rank at SPC recognizes the academic credentials and professional experience of faculty who demonstrate high standards of teaching excellence. While faculty rank carries no monetary value, it indicates ascending levels of distinction and scholarship.
Promotions in rank represent an honorable achievement within the teaching profession. Faculty rank includes the titles of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor. Promotions in rank are also granted by the board of regents.
Promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor are: Kristi Buchanan, Health Sciences; Denise Glab, Health Sciences; Krisha Hoelscher, Business Administration; Shawn Horne, Science; Katherine Jackson, English and Philosophy; Salvador Molinar, Industrial Technology; Abel Rios, social Science; Vanessa Robison, Business Administration; Christopher Trobridge, Social Science; Darla Wittie, Behavioral Science; and Erin Wolff, Commercial Music.
Promoted to the rank of Associate Professor are: Dale Wayne Beadles, Creative Arts; John Clayton, Social Science; Rodolfo Guardiola, Creative Arts; Tori Hall, Biology; Jeremy Nicholson, Biology; and Harriet Strickland,
Biology.
Promoted to the rank of Professor are: Megan Keith, Biology; Stuart Moody, Creative Arts; Eric Niederhauser, Biology; W. Mathew Quick; Creative Arts;
and Robert Wood, Behavioral Science.
The presentation of service awards was done by Vice President for Business Affairs Teresa Green.
The Service Award Program honored the current employees who have contributed designated years of service to SPC. The program was designed to recognize the service achievements of employees and the contributions employees make to the success of the college. Service awards are specially designed medallions of the college’s seal cast in precious and semiprecious metals. Awards are given for five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service.
Awards were presented by SPC Board of Regents Chairman Mike Box.
Receiving five years of service awards are: Beatrice Ables, Administrative Assistant to Advising and Testing; Gina Becker, Assistant Professor of Mathematics; Celia Cardenas, Custodian. Christina Cobarrubio, custodian; Devin Collins, instructor in Commercial Music; Steven Davidson, computer technician;
Karla Dunn, administrative assistant to the English Department; Richard Ellis, secretary of the board of regents; Victoria Huffhines, director of Plainview Center; Thomas Johnson, instructor in mathematics; Dr. Benjamin Keltz, associate professor of english; Deagan Lawless, assistant director of the business office; Courtney Longway, administrative assistant to the dean of Lubbock Downtown Center; Ximena Moreno, customer service coordinator; Octavio Powers, instructor of HVAC and refrigeration technologies; Russel Powers, instructor in emergency medical services; Nathan Ragland, public service librarian; Victoria Rodriquez, custodian; Vivian Sanchez, VA financial aid advisor; Lori Satterwhite, assistant professor of College Literary and English; Evan Vargas, instructor in mathematics; and Jay Warnick, director of continuing education and workforce development.
Receiving 10 years of service awards are: Dianna Bruner, Administrative Assistant to the Science and Biology Department; Rachel Casey, Student Support Specialist; Sylvia Cirilo, Custodian; John Clayton, Assistant Professor of History; Jerod Clopton, Assistant Professor of Mathematics;
Shanna Donica, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment; Veronica Garcia, Custodian; Octavio Garza, Courier; Dr. Deborah Gelber, Associate Professor of Music; Sanford Hunt, Instructor in History; James Kemper, Assistant Professor in Economics; Mollie Moore, Assistant Professor in English; Shannon Peterman, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs; Manuela Ramirez; Custodian; Olga Ruiz, Custodian; Oralia Smith, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment.
Erin Wolff, Instructor in Commercial Music.
Receiving the 15 years of service award are: Dale Wayne Beadles, Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Graphic Arts; Diane Eagle, Assistant Professor of Mathematics; Josefina Gonzalez, Custodian; Lauren Gregory, Business Administration Dept. Chairperson and Associate Professor of Business Administration; Debbie Hale, Administrative Assistant to Allied Health; Carmen Herrera, Custodian; Ryan Heth, Assistant Professor in Kinesiology; Marcie Miller, Associate Professor in Psychology;
Dr. Dan Nazworth, Fine Arts Dept. Chairperson and Professor of Theatre Arts; Jeremy Nicholson, Assistant Professor of Biology; Andrew Ruiz, Registrar; and Nancy Smith, Associate Professor of Anthropology. Receiving the 20 years of service award are:
Kristi Barker, Assistant Professor of College Literacy and English; Kara Donatelli, Professor of Art;
Kara Martinez, Dean of Lubbock Downtown Center;
Aloma Pinkert, Administrative Assistant to Math and Engineering Department; Dr. Socorro Armida Rosiles, Professor of Psychology; and Letitia Simpson, Assistant Professor of Biology.
Receiving the 25 years of service award are: Kevin Nowell, Irrigation Specialist; William Quick, Associate Professor of Sound Technology, Audio Engineer; and Alan Worley, Dean of Arts and Sciences.
Receiving the 30 years of service award are: Alma Lopez, Professor of Mathematics; and Sharon Race, English and Philosophy Dept. Chairperson and Professor of English.
Receiving the 35 years of service award are: Tracey Pineda, Librarian; and Philip Ricker, Professor of Biology.
Receiving the 40 years of service award is Delma Salines, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Receiving the 45 years of service award is Dr. Peggy Skinner, Behavioral Science Dept. Chairperson and Professor of Psychology.
The Fall 2022 retirees are: Virginia Cabrera, Financial Aid Advisor of 17 years;
the late Paul Davidson, Associate Professor of Design Communications of 27 years; Connie Gardner, Customer Service Coordinator of 15 years; Suzanne Griffin, Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Vocational Nursing of 36 years; Carmen Herrera, Custodian for the Reese Center Campus of 14 years; I-Fan Knotts, Professor of Spanish of 23 years; Ed Marsh, Professor of Commercial Music of 44 years; Adela Ochoa, Administrative Assistant of 20 years; Sylvia Valdez. Transfer Clerk of 20 years; and Christie Wright, Administrative Assistant of 13 years.
The Spring 2023 retirees are: Tony Balboa, Painter of 19 years;
Jerry Gray, Campus Police Lieutenant of 14 years;
Norberto “Rob” Ramos, Associate Professor of Spanish of 19 years; and Dennis Churchwell, Director of Purchasing of 17 years.