The Oregon Tech Foundation at Oregon Institute of Technology made 2007-08 awards to faculty and staff at a convocation breakfast Tuesday.
Bob Bass, assistant professor, Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy at OIT-Portland, and Rose McClure, instructor, Natural Sciences are this year's recipients of the Foundation Faculty Achievement Awards which are presented in recognition of the outstanding accomplishments of faculty.
Bass has served on the presidential search committee, has personally advised hundreds of students in preparation for majoring in renewable energy engineering and leads OIT renewable energy education efforts. He had numerous letters of recommendation from colleagues and students, and was highly praised for making rigorous coursework enjoyable. He is a leader not only at OIT but nationally because of his knowledge base.
"Bob has put OIT on the map-nationally-for renewable energy education," said Lita Colligan, associate vice president for strategic partnerships.
McClure has gone above and beyond her duties as a chemistry instructor, often spending many hours conscientiously advising students. Always a team player, she took on additional human anatomy and physiology lab sections to fill a need within the department, mentored several adjunct faculty members, served on the OIT Foundation scholarship committee and served as a member of the natural science faculty search committee.
"Her open-door, open-heart approach to teaching is a tremendous asset to the department as well as the entire school," said Angela Archer, a former student, in her nomination letter.
The Student Affairs Most Valuable Partner award is given in recognition of exceptional collaboration with Student Affairs staff. This year's award was given the Paper Owl Bookstore staff: Lane Hickman, Jeff Wiseman, Jane Mathiason and Kim Turner. Student Affairs recognized the Paper Owl staff for their eagerness to help Residence Life staff by donating OIT merchandise, their willingness to open the store during ROAD events on Saturdays and for being on the ball by ordering NAIA Championship shirts as soon as OIT won its second national basketball title in March.
Donna Heryford, office manager, was this year's recipient of the Classified Staff award. The faculty of the Computer Systems Engineering Technology department nominated her, citing her ability to provide superior service, contribute to a respectful and collaborative work environment, and exemplify excellence and integrity in workplace relationships, among many other achievements.
The President's Staff Award was bestowed upon Angela Aguiar, director of the Center for Learning and Teaching, and Haldane Harris, budget officer. The award is presented annually to honor outstanding administrative staff members whose talents and dedication have made a significant difference to the vitality of OIT.
Aguiar has performed a critical role in student success for several years. Among other accomplishments, she has brought CFLAT's academic support services to a new level, greatly expanding test proctoring services, implementing a tutor training program and expanding those services, and developing OIT's Registration Opportunity and Discovery (ROAD) program for new students. Aguiar's leadership and dedication has played a key role in OIT's greatly increased freshman retention rate-from 67 to 75 percent in one year.
"She is completely dedicated to student success and to finding ways to work with faculty and students that are productive, tactful and effective," said nominator Linda Young of OIT's communication studies department.
Harris, has served as OIT's budget officer for 20 years. He single-handedly creates and revises all departmental budgets, often working with two or more members of each department to accomplish the task. Harris has been praised for his patient demeanor and proficiency in understanding-and being able to articulate repeatedly-the complexities of the Oregon University System budget system.
"[Haldane] is willing, at any given moment, to give a lesson regarding the state system finances to anyone willing to listen and learn," said Cheryl Meyers, executive assistant to the associate provost.
