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College honours excellence award recipients

Three awards given for teaching, leadership, and staff excellence were presented to members of Holland College staff during the College's annual Professional Development Day held recently in Charlottetown.

Presented in accordance with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), of which Holland College is a member, these awards are given for specific purposes and are based on specific criteria including commitment, impact on students and community, team work, performance and contribution, creativity and leadership. College staff, co workers, and students are provided the opportunity to recommend to a Selection Committee, the names of individuals who they feel are most deserving of these special awards.

"The exceptional contribution of these staff members serves as a model of excellence for all staff," commented Brian McMillan, President of Holland College. "They have given so much of themselves to make the College a better place for our students, staff and community."

Honoring a faculty member who has exhibited consistent excellence in teaching and who has made a significant impact on the personal and academic growth of students is this year's recipient of the Holland College ACCC Award for Teaching Excellence, Human Services Learning Manager, Joan McDonald.

"Joan McDonald has devoted her lifetime, both personally and professionally, to the inclusion and advancement of people with disabilities. Her participation in this field spans a period of more than 30 years, from the time she worked with a vocational services agency to her long and successful teaching career," commented Twilah Stone, Learning Manager, Human Services program. "Joan has established excellence in teaching through productive academic relationships, and preparing graduates to enter the workplace ready to establish careers based on principles taught in the Human Services program, principles of acceptance, inclusion and valuing the person. When she teaches, you know it is not just something she read in a book but something she practiced while working with people in real life situations. She goes above and beyond her professional expectations to make for not only a brilliant educator but an absolute sweetheart as well!"

Colleges and institutes have traditionally played a leadership role in the communities they serve. Although the entire institution participates, inevitably, one or two people make an outstanding contribution each year. And so too does this individual. Under her tireless leadership, Library Services at Holland College has been transformed. She is passionate about libraries in general and providing good library service to the students and staff of Holland College in particular. It is a testament to her vision and tenacity that the College?s Library Services Department is what it is today....Brenda Brady, this year's recipient of the Holland College ACCC Award for Leadership Excellence.

Andrea Stewart made the presentation saying, ?Brenda has been the primary champion for the establishment of new facilities for the Holland College Library in the soon to be opened Centre for Learning Innovation. None of this work is for her own advancement, but rather for the academic progress, learning and comfort of our students and staff. Brenda has a tremendous motivational influence on her staff. She strives for excellence and in turn motivates her employees to do the same. Within the Island?s library community, she is highly regarded and has been the lead and driving force in developing and promoting two high profile community based projects?she is an enthusiastic leader and supporter of a variety of community groups?she thinks outside the box?she doesn?t sit back and simply let things happen - Brenda finds a way to make them happen.?

The Holland College ACCC Staff Excellence Award honors a staff member who has made an exceptional contribution within the institution and community and serves as a model of excellence for all staff and was awarded to Scott Compton, Clerk, Audio-Visual/Computer Services Department at Holland College.

"Excellence is not defined by mere proficiency, it is something that one achieves by being where you belong, loving what you do, and doing it to the best of your ability. Scott definitely ?belongs? on the front line of Computer Services," commented Terence McGaughey. "When customers call with a problem, Scott doesn?t simply process a request, there is an immediate and instinctive desire to help the person with their problem. The difference between providing service and providing ?excellent? service is having and acting upon the desire to help and to serve. Not only is he adept at his job, but he is one of those rare individuals who always has a smile and a kind word?he is always willing to go the extra mile for staff, students and the general public and if he can?t answer your question immediately, he?s ready to do the necessary research to find the answer and get back to you as quickly as possible. Scott is a shining example of what staff excellence is all about."

The three Holland College 2006 Excellence Award winners will now have their names forwarded to ACCC in Ottawa for consideration at the national level later this summer.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Sara Underwood, Media and Communications Officer
Tel: 902-566-9695
Date: Tuesday, June 27, 2006