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Fort Lewis College Faculty/ Staff/ Community Awards

This list is a service of the Center of Southwest Studies.
 

Fort Lewis College awards history Alice Admire Outstanding
Teaching Award
New Faculty Award Achievement Award
Outstanding Staff Award Distinguished Service Award Cultural Diversity Awards

Links to Fort Lewis College Alumni Association awards lists:

Alumni Recognition Awards Distinguished Alumni Award

Link to Fort Lewis College Student awards list

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A brief history of faculty/staff awards at Fort Lewis College

The Faculty/Staff Awards Program was established in the summer of 1973, following its design and development by an ad hoc committee composed of the following members:

Dr. Marvin L. Giersch, Chairman
Dr. Edith Brochu
Dr. Mark Coburn
Mr. Stanton Englehart
Dr. Dan Gibbons
Dr. Reginald Graham
Dr. Larry Johnson
Dr. Harrold S. Shipps, Jr.
This ad hoc committee decided to give two awards: the Outstanding Teaching Award and the Fort Lewis College Achievement Award, and established the criteria for each. At its meeting on October 30, 1973, the faculty nominated fifteen candidates for membership on the first Faculty/Staff Awards Committee. Five were elected, by written ballot of the faculty, and the Committee chose Dr. Larry Johnson as its first Chairman. Dean Arthur Brintnall was named to the Committee as the representative of the professional staff, and. Mark Anderson and Barbara Temple were selected to serve as student members.
(Source: Fort Lewis College Archives, Collection M 001, Series 19.II.5)


Outstanding Teaching Award recipients
(known as the Alice Admire Outstanding Teaching Award since 1978)

Both this award and the Fort Lewis College Achievement Award were proposed in the spring of 1973 and were first given in the spring of 1974,

"to encourage and reward professional dedication and outstanding teaching ability by the faculty. To be eligible, a faculty member must have been a teacher at the College for at least three years and must have taught the standard weekly number of credit hours for his or her position. The criteria for the Outstanding Teaching Award are (a) excellence in classroom teaching, (b) successful interpersonal relationships with students, and (c) additional contributions to excellent teaching."In the spring of 1978 this award was renamed the Alice Admire Outstanding Teaching Award, for the late Alice Admire, an Assistant Professor of English at Fort Lewis College at the time of her retirement in 1974. Mrs. Admire herself had been one of five finalists selected for this award in March of 1974 (the others were Thomas Eckenrode, Marvin Giersch, Aubrey Holderness, and Carroll Peterson--each of whom eventually received the award also). Born on September 23, 1918 in Cortez, she died suddenly on February 12, 1975 in El Cajon, California and was buried in Durango. Her father was a well-known educator of the Four Corners, Elza "Pa" Needham, for whom Needham Elementary School in Durango is named. She graduated from Durango High School, and was awarded a B.S. degree in Home Economics at Colorado State University in 1939. She taught Home Economics at Fort Lewis College from 1951 to 1961, then earned a Master's Degree in English at Western State Gunnison before returning to the Fort Lewis College faculty as a member of the Department of English from 1962 until 1974. Describing her as a teacher in 1971, English Department Chair Maynard Fox wrote that "I discovered the essential secret to her success as a teacher: she vibrates concern for her students without in any way being obvious about it. It is just her natural way and they respond to it."

Both this and the Fort Lewis College Achievement Award have carried a stipend of $500 since their inauguration in 1974. Those so honored are chosen by the Faculty-Staff Awards Committee, which is composed of students, faculty and staff.

(Sources: Fort Lewis College Archives, Collection M 001, Series 19.II.1, Series 19.II.5, and Series 14.2.2.)
Awardees:

1974     Aubrey E. Holderness, Assistant Professor of Business Administration
1975     Carroll V. Peterson, Professor of English
1976     Thomas R. Eckenrode, Associate Professor of History
1977     Marvin L. Giersch, Associate Professor of Physical Education
1978     Duane A. Smith, Professor of History
1979     Lillian B. Lang, Assistant Professor of English
1980     Daniel E. Gibbons, Professor of Physics
1981     Jack A. Ellingson, Professor of Geology
1982     Edward S. Freienmuth, Professor of Accounting
1983     Nicholas J. Heidy, Professor of Psychology
1984     Shaila Van Sickle, Professor of English
1985     Donald Bushnell, Professor of Mathematics
1986     Paul N. Pavich, Professor of English
1987     Byron D. Dare, Assistant Professor of Political Science
1988     Doreen M. Mehs, Professor of Chemistry
1989     Roland C. Jones, Professor of English
1990     Larry Goff, Associate Professor of Business Administration
1991     Linda S. Mack, Professor of Music
1992     Charles O. "Chuck" Tustin, Associate Professor of Business Administration
1993     Linda L. Simmons, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
1994     G. Leonard "Red" Bird, Professor of English
1995     Kathleen S. Fine-Dare, Professor of Anthropology
1996     Larry Hartsfield, Professor of English
1997     James W. "Jim" Mills, Professor of Chemistry
1998     W. James "Jim" Judge, Professor of Anthropology
1999     Doreen Hunter, Professor of History
2000     Charles "Chuck" Walker, Professor of Exercise Science
2001
    David Kozak, Professor of Anthropology
2002     Carla Williams,
Professor of Engineering
2003     Reed McKnight, Professor of Accounting
2004     Lourdes Carrasco, Professor of Modern Language
2005    John Pennington, Associate Professor of Music
2006    Kathy Wellborn, Visiting Instructor, Freshman Math Program
2007    Shere Byrd, Professor of Biology
2008    Dr. Tim Farrell, Associate Professor, Music


New Faculty Teaching Award

This annual award is for full-time, non-tenured Fort Lewis faculty who are on a tenure track.  Faculty members are nominated by their departments.  After that, each nominee must submit a package, which the Teaching Committee analyzes in the fall to select the recipient.

2000    Ashley Shultz, Assistant Professor of Physics
2001    Nancy Oppenheim, Assistant Professor of Business Law
2002    Maggie A. Cason, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
2003    David Gonzales, Assistant Professor of Geosciences
2004 
  Craig Tyler, Assistant Professor of Physics
2005    Brian Burke, Assistant Professor of Psychology

2006    Brad Benz, Assistant Professor of English
2007    Ginny Hutchins, Assistant Professor of Biology
2008    Dr. Jeff Loats, Assistant Professor, Physics/Engineering



Fort Lewis College Achievement Award

This award was established along with the Outstanding Teaching Award in 1974...

"...as a means of stimulating and rewarding achievement, leadership, and service at Fort Lewis College. Any member of the faculty or staff is eligible, provided he has been a full-time employee of the College for the past three years. The criteria for this award are the following: (a) consistently superior record of competence, resourcefulness, and dedication as an employee of the College; (b) noteworthy involvement in activities that have served to advance the academic program of the College; (c) evidence of creative achievement, significant research, or other professional attainment in his or her academic discipline; (d) other significant innovative work that has enhanced the opportunities of the College to broaden its service to students and community; and (e) demonstrated leadership in educational and social programs."
(Source: Fort Lewis College Archives, Collection M 001, Series 19.II.1)
Awardees:

1974     Randall Taylor, Professor of Physical Science (retired 1974)
1975     Buford Wayt, supervisor of the American Indian program
1976     Dolph Kuss, Associate Professor of Physical Education and ski coach
1977     Tony Ferdinando, Automotive Shop Foreman
1978     Charles H. Reid, Jr., Director of Admissions and Records
1979     Edwin W. (Ned) Wallace, Director of Alumni Affairs and Assistant to the Dean of Student Affairs
1980     John Ritchey, Professor of Chemistry
1981     Daniel E. Black, Director of Budget and Planning
1982     Sammy Willis, Director of Personnel
1983     Harrold S. Shipps, Jr., Librarian and Professor
1984     Julian H. Murphy, former Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for Student Affairs (honored posthumously)
1985     Marlene Pixler, Secretary, Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences
1986     Joan Sanders, Professor of Physical Education and Director of Affirmative Action
1987     Robert Lundquist, Director of the Learning Assistance Center
1988     John Crowder, Assistant Director of the Library and Associate Professor
1989     Della Johnson, Staff Assistant to the Vice President for Business and Finance
1990     Jack Ellingson, Professor of Geology
1991     Sheri Rochford, Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations
1992     Al Mages, Director of Physical Plant
1993     Joseph C. Colgan, Professor of Accounting
1994     Gary D. Knight, Professor of Education
1995     Omnia I. El-Hakim, Professor of Engineering
1996     Stephen Roderick, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the School of Education
1997     Betty Perry, Vice President of Student Affairs, and O. D. Perry, Professor and Associate Dean, School of Business Administration
1998     No award given.
1999     Vicki Caskey, Director of Human Resources
2000     Sam Burns
2001     Carol Smith, Associate Professor of Management, Business Communications
2002     Robert Dolphin, Jr., Vice President for Business and Finance
2003     Joe Perino, Director of Facilities Planning
2004
    Carl Stransky, lab coordinator for the Fort Lewis College Chemistry Department
2005     Beverly Chew, Professor of Psychology

2006     Susan Moss, Professor of Art
2007     Rick Wheelock, Associate Professor of Southwest Studies
2008     Joe Keck, Small Business Development Center


Fort Lewis College Outstanding Staff Award

This award was established in 1990. Eligibility is for...

"...any staff member who has performed service during each of the past three years. … Faculty, Vice-Presidents and the President are not eligible for the award."Selection criteria are: "(1) Consistent excellence in the performance of duties, (2) Successful interpersonal relationships with the public (if appropriate), peers, and supervisors, (3) Sincere concern in developing and progressing to even more outstanding performance, (4) Additional contributions to the growth and development of Fort Lewis College as an institution of higher learning, and (5) Demonstrated commitment to outstanding service provided to the College Community."
(Source: Fort Lewis College Archives, Collection M 001, Series 19.II.1)
Awardees:

1990     Jimmy Hays, Physical Plant Maintenance Supervisor
1991     Mary Jean "M. J." Moseley, Professor of English & Director of Intercultural Center, &
                Robert Aragon, Physical Plant Grounds Crew
1992     Dona Guy, Assistant Registrar
1993     Kathryn "Kathy" Wellborn, Learning Skills/Math Specialist
1994     Susan McGinness, Director of Counseling and Student Development
1995     Susan Smith, Registrar
1996     Brad Hitti, Residence Life Facilities Coordinator
1997     Merle Joosten, Programmer Analyst Manager, Computing and Telecommunications
1998     B. J. Pierce, Program Assistant, School of Education
1999     Theresa Radke, Lab Coordinator, Biology/Agriculture/Forestry
2000     Colin Smith, Counseling Center
2001     Jill Wiegert, Residence Life  Conference Services Coordinator
2002     Marianne Gurule, Center for Academic Readiness Program Assistant
2003     Peggy Sharp, Executive Assistant to the President
2004     Billy Deville, custodian
2005     Lucia Poole, Administrative Assistant for the departments of English, Sociology and History
2006     Dan Hoff, P.A., Health Center Director
2007     Marc Goldfarb, Assistant Director, Leadership Center
2008     Maurine Liddiard, Purchasing/Controller’s Office


San Juan Basin Regional Science Fair and Fort Lewis College Meritorious Service Award

Year
Recipient
1985
Dr. Frank Bowman, Geology

Fort Lewis College Distinguished Service Award

This award was established in 1970. It is the highest honor granted by the College, and is decided by the Fort Lewis College President's Cabinet in March of each year.

Awardees:

1970     Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ballantine and Dr. Leo W. Lloyd
1971     David E. McGraw and Arthur C. Sheely
1972     Elizabeth Pellet and Arthur M. Wyatt
1973     Charles Thomas Porter and James French
1974     William S. Eakes and Frederick B. Emigh
1975     R. Bruce Sullivan and Mahlon White
1976     H. Jackson Clark and R.W. "Nick" Turner
1977     Randall D. Taylor
1978     Helen Sloan Daniels and Guillermo "Willie" Lobato
1979     Dr. W. Perry Ball
1980     Vince Lester and A. C. "Al" Ruland
1981     Robert L. Beers and Frederick V. Kroeger
1982     Lawrence W. "Larry" McDaniel
1983     Laroy F. Crow and Thomas J. Johnson
1984     Dan Noble
1985     John F. Reed
1986     John A. Love
1987     Raymond T. Duncan
1988     Rexer Berndt
1989     Edwin W. "Ned" Wallace
1990     Mr. and Mrs. Clay Bader
1991     Robert Delaney
1992     Edward S. Freienmuth and the Community of Durango
1993     Edward James " Jim" Dyer
1994     Donald F. Whalen
1995     Richard Ballantine
1996     James E. Morehart
1997     Don and Sandra Mapel
1998     John Marvel
1999     John Bliss
2000 
     H. W. "Punk" & Joy Blackstone
2001     Douglas Shand
2002     Jane K. Knott
2003     State Senator Jim Isgar and State Representative Mark Larson
 


Fort Lewis College Cultural Diversity Awards

This category of awards was established in 1994 (the last awards were given in 2000).  They were decided by the [former] Diversity Committee in conjunction with the Office of Affirmative Action and were awarded in May of each year.

Awardees:
 

Year
Faculty
Staff
Alumni
Student
Community
1994
Mukti Khanna
Bill Bolden
Lyndell Chee
Ron Felix
Robert Buckskin
1995
Farren Webb
Marianne Griffin
Vernon Willie
Keri Brandt
Clyde Benally
1996
Cliff Capp
Marge Gomez
Sandra One Feather
Kathi Johnson
Martha Enriquez
1997
Omnia El-Hakim
Jason Astle
Carmelita Topaha
Terry Tesswood 
Butch Gomez
1998
Linda Simmons
Mary Tso
Linda Baker-Rohde
Kester Tapaha
Vicki Coe
1999
Gary Knight
Kalin Grigg
Jennifer Stark
Emma Salazar and Corri Vigil
Marcie Denham
2000
Rick Wheelock
Javier Gutierrez
Elayne Walstedter
Will Wagner
Dee Dee Deharo Brown

Note: this information is correct to the best of our knowledge, having been drawn from the archives of the College.  Please email any comments, questions or corrections to the archivist at archives@fortlewis.edu  


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Page last modified: October 07, 2008