[View ALL News Press Releases] Three of Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's finest were among the faculty and staff honored at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System New Horizons Awards banquet on May 18, recognizing quality and excellence in teaching and service. Assistant Professor of Electrical Technology, Jeffrey Rivera, received the faculty award, Program Facilitator Mary Ann Flowers received the administrative award, and Business Affairs Assistant Anna Dunkelberger, received the staff award. The three were among 50 KCTCS faculty and staff members recognized at the New Horizons (an annual conference for KCTCS faculty and staff) awards banquet. Each of the 16 KCTCS colleges selected an outstanding faculty, staff and administrative member for 2009. Two staff members from the KCTCS System Office in Versailles were also honored. "I am very proud of the dedication, accomplishments and capabilities of Jeff Rivera, Mary Ann Flowers and Anna Dunkelberger," said ECTC President Dr. Thelma White. "They have demonstrated leadership in every aspect of their lives, including community involvement, student outreach, professional development, and support for their college. Their contributions are invaluable."

Assistant Professor Jeffrey Rivera, Leitchfield, has taught at ECTC for three and a half years, working diligently to improve the electrical technology program, his classes, and effectiveness as an instructor. During the past year, he has improved his classrooms by installing Panelview touch screens in the PLC classroom and is currently installing a home automation system in the Construction classroom. These are both advanced and emerging technologies that greatly enhance ECTC students' skills and employability. Rivera offers Electrical Journeyman Prep classes to the community to prepare individuals for their licensing exams, in addition to teaching classes for several local manufacturing companies through the Community and Economic Development Office. Rivera has taught Lego Robotics classes for the Kids College Program for three years. These classes teach students about robotics, electricity, and science. He is also involved in the College's Trans Atlantic Share program, which is a joint project with a school in Wetzlar, Germany, to design and build an energy efficient house using renewable energy and technologies such as solar and home automation. ECTC is planning to incorporate solar technologies into its classes. Rivera has worked with a group at ECTC to try to secure a 1.9 million dollar Department of Labor Grant to allow the College to purchase new training equipment for several electrical classes and offer robotics classes to middle and high school students. He regularly attends professional development training opportunities to stay abreast of new technologies and industry standards, which he can incorporate into his classes. Rivera also serves on several ECTC committees and participates in community events and organizations.

Mary Ann Flowers, Elizabethtown, is the Program Facilitator and Academic Advisor for Off Campus Programs. Housed at the ECTC Fort Knox Center, Mary Ann is actively engaged in facilitating programs and services geared toward serving soldiers and their family members. Some her recent initiatives include a proposal that lead to the establishment of a Student Center, and a proposal that has lead to the development of a multi-purpose science lab, both located in the Education Center at Fort Knox. Additionally, she received a personal commendation from the Military Installation Voluntary Education Review Team for her advising efforts and leadership. She is appointed to the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Army Degree Advisory Committee in Washington D.C., is a member of the Kentucky Association of Collegiate Registrar's and Admission's Officers, a Kentucky Colonel, and serves on the ECTC Staff Council among several other internal committees.

Business Affairs Assistant Anna Dunkelberger has worked in ECTC's Business Affairs office for eight years, working in student billings and collections. She is committed to providing students with friendly, accurate and prompt service. Anna is also a graduate of Elizabethtown Technical College. She is married to Bart Dunkelberger and has lived in Elizabethtown for 26 years.

A list of all faculty and staff honorees follows, alphabetically by college.

Ashland Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Mr. William Jack Johnson, information technology (IT) support staff Administrative Staff Award: Mrs. Louise Shytle, dean, institutional development, assistant to the president Faculty Award: Mrs. Jennifer Carroll, professor, coordinator of associate degree nursing

Big Sandy Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Leslie Bays, senior administrative assistant Administrative Staff Award: Mr. Jackie Cecil, director of human resources Faculty Award: Mr. Charles Moore, associate professor, industrial maintenance

Bluegrass Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Kay Brewer, facilities team leader, maintenance and operations Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Becky Harp-Stephens, registrar Faculty Award: Dr. Rebecca Glasscock, coordinator, anthropology, criminal justice and sociology Bowling Green Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Peggy Beasley, senior administrative assistant Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Donna Martin, assistant to the president for institutional advancement and community relations Faculty Award: Ms Lisa Hunt, associate professor, culinary

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Anna Dunkelberger, business affairs assistant Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Mary Ann Flowers, program facilitator Faculty Award: Mr. Jeffrey Rivera, assistant professor, electrical technology Gateway Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Nicole Stout, administrative assistant, nursing and allied health sciences Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Patricia Goodman, dean of institutional research, planning and effectiveness Faculty Award: Dr. Michelle Deeley Wilhite, associate professor, communications

Hazard Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Glenna Fletcher, administrative assistant Administrative Staff Award: Mr. Terry Conley, IT project manager Faculty Award: Dr. Paul Currie, assistant professor, distance learning coordinator Henderson Community College Support Staff Award: Ms. Karen Guess, division assistant, Physical Sciences and Technologies Division Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Mary Lee Johnston, financial aid coordinator Faculty Award: Ms. Maura Corley, professor, Physical Sciences and Technologies Division Hopkinsville Community College Support Staff Award: Ms. Carol Newcomb, senior administrative assistant, student affairs Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Kathy Saleeba, IT manager Faculty Award: Ms. Ann Nichols, librarian, associate professor, academic affairs

Jefferson Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Angela Henes, staff assistant, JCTC Advising Center Administrative Staff Award: Mrs. Amanda Tindall, assistant registrar Faculty Award: Mr. Chris Graney, professor, physics and astronomy

Madisonville Community College Support Staff Award: Mrs. Katrina Scott, student affairs assistant Administrative Staff Award: Mr. Michael Johnson, associate dean of business affairs Faculty Award: Mrs. Linda Thomas, professor, nursing division chair

Maysville Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Lynne Ellen Lindsay, senior administrative assistant Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Barbara Campbell, chief officer, community, economic and institutional development Faculty Award: Ms. Margo Hamm, professor, librarian

Owensboro Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Mr. Leonard Schroader, maintenance technician Administrative Staff Award: Mrs. Bernice Ayer, financial aid director Faculty Award: Dr. Fred Wetzel, associate professor, psychology

Somerset Community College Support Staff Award: Ms. Debbie Gaskin-Richardson, division administrative assistant, Business and Information Technology Division Administrative Staff Award: Mr. Dave Cazalet, director of public relations Faculty Award: Ms. Betty Peterson, professor, English, Humanities and Fine Arts Division

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Cathie Day, senior administrative assistant, academic affairs Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Evelyn Hensley, librarian Faculty Award: Dr. Astor Simpson, professor, psychology and sociology; chair of the faculty

West Kentucky Community and Technical College Support Staff Award: Ms. Jill Knight, administrative assistant, Learning Initiatives Department Administrative Staff Award: Ms. Betty Myrick, director of adult education Faculty Award: Mr. Randy Simmons, assistant professor, art

KCTCS System Office Support Staff Award: Ms. Jenny Brown, executive administrative assistant Administrative Staff Award: Mr. Jamie Justice, director of visualized learning and innovation