ECC Awards
Nominations Now Open for the 2025 NISOD Excellence Award!
National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award
NISOD is “a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges.” As a member of NISOD, we have the opportunity each year to nominate and send up to five qualified faculty or staff members (full-time or part-time) to the NISOD Annual Conference, which this year will be on on May 24-27, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
A call for nominations goes out in September each year. Nominations may be submitted by faculty, administrators, support staff members, or students. Each person may submit only one nomination.
Nominations for the 2025 award are due by 5pm on Friday, September 20, 2024.
*Note: To receive the award, nominees must have been an employee of ECC for at least three years prior to the time of nomination. Nominees are only eligible to win the NISOD Award once every five years.
Nominating Criteria:
The nominee should demonstrate excellence in the following areas:
Promotes and fosters a learner-centered environment
Collaborates and develops partnerships across ECC and/or the greater community
Engages in innovative initiatives across campus
Demonstrates positive and effective assistance to diverse learners in reaching their academic goals
Provides exceptional services to students
Provides leadership on campus and in the community
Demonstrates commitment to continuous learning and professional development of colleagues and one’s self
Embodies ECC’s shared values: Excellence; Freedom of Inquiry; Equity; Diversity; Ethical Practice; Accountability; Collaboration
Previous NISOD Award Recipients
2024: Sarah Buzzelli, Wendy Chen, Chris Cunningham, Juan Fernandez, Sean Jensen, and Joshua Thusat
2023: Liddy Hope, Natalie Leisering, Debra Norden, David Strossner, and Erin Vobornik
2022: Luis Caballero, Mia Hardy, Lauren Nehlsen, Tyler Roeger, and Joe Rosenfeld
2021: Diane Flahaven, Peter Gray, Michelle Kershner, Tim Moore, Pietrina Probst, and Kelly Scott
2020: Marc Beth, Lori Jones, John Long, Lisa McCarthy-West, and David Zacker
2019: Abigail Bailey, Marc Hucek, Amybeth Maurer, Tyler O'Donnell, and Annamarie Schopen
2018: Diva Ajinth, Soma Chattopadhyay, Dawn Munson, Mary Peterhans, and Greg Wheaton
2017: Chalyce Deterding, Michelle Kelty, David Lawrence, William Pelz, and Patrick Stewart
2016: Tim Anderson, Elizabeth Becker, Kenny Beynon, Elizabeth McNulty, and Fred Vogt
2015: Marilee Halpin, Terri Martin, Luis Martinez, and Rich Wince
2014: Lauren Anderko, Michelle Brynelsen, Sally Guy, Clark Hallpike, Colleen Stribling, and David Zacker
2013: Patti Jachowicz, Marcia Luptak, Catherine Moushon, David Reich, Linda Wallace
2012: Lynn Ducar, Marybeth Koos, Gary Norden, Roger Ramey, Kim Tarver
2011: Lori Clark, Nicole Scherger, Leticia Starkov, Katherine Storey, Laurel Vietzen
2010: Heidi Eaton, Joyce Fountain, Crystal Kerwin, John Slawson, Armando Trejo
2009: Alison Douglas, Linda Hefferin, Dan Kernler, Ronald Kowakczyk, Gregl Kramer, and Connie Orbeta
2008: Tim Kaar, Linda McEwan, Rachael Tecza, Susan Timm, and Maryann Tuerk
Congratulations to the 2024 Orrin G. Thompson Teaching Excellence Award recipients!
Umberto Tinajero, Instructor of IMT/CIM
Jennifer Clark, English Unit Adjunct Faculty
Orrin G. Thompson Teaching Excellence Award
The Orrin G. Thompson Teaching Excellence Award honors faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the learning environment of the college and who are dedicated to student successes. Recipients are also nominated for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Outstanding Faculty Member Award. Specific criteria for this award include the nominee’s demonstrated excellence in teaching, initiative on innovative programs, service on technical or special committees, leadership in helping solve challenges and participation in state and/or national education associations. One full-time and one part-time faculty member receive the award each year.
*Note: To receive the award, nominees must have been an employee of ECC for at least three years prior to the time of nomination. Nominees are only eligible to win the Orrin G. Thompson Award once every five years.
Nomination Process:
Once the call for nominations goes out early in the spring semester, students, faculty, and staff are invited to submit nominations by answering the question on the Electronic Nomination Form. Additional information, used for choosing a winner and also for submitting nominees for the ICCTA awards, is then solicited from nominees. This information includes initiative on innovative programs, service on technical or special committees, leadership in helping solve challenges, participation in state and/or national education associations, awards and recognition, and ongoing professional development.
Please direct any question to Tyler Roeger, Associate Dean of CETAL, at troeger@elgin.edu.
Nominating Criteria:
Nominees should exemplify and, thereby strengthen the shared values of the college community which are: Excellence, Freedom of Inquiry, Equity, Ethical Practices, Accountability, Respect for Diversity & Community Engagement
Full and part-time faculty in good standing with the college may be nominated.
Previous Orrin G. Thompson Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
2023 Deyana Matt & Antonio Ramirez
2022 John Karnatz & Parul Raval
2021 Timothy Kaar & Robert Russ
2020 Soma Chattopadhyay & Colleen Stribling
2019 Helen DiNardo & Heidi Eaton
2018 Jane Maas & Greg Wheaton
2017 Soma Chattopadhyay & Patrick Stewart
2016 Elizabeth Soderquist & Kim Tarver
2015 John Mravik
2014 Alison Douglas
2013 Dan Kernler
2012 Mary Beth Koos
2011 Letecia Starkov
2010 Jill Russell
2009 Ronald Kowalczyk
2008 Connie Orbeta
2007 David Sujak
2006 Andy Erbach
2005 Laurel Vetzen
2004 Stephanie Johnson
2003 Brent Steel
2002 Mark Pelczarski
2001 Hani Qasmieh
2000 Dan Gardner
1999 Linda Hefferin
1998 Loren Weaver
1997 Dan Gardner