The Grossmont College family came together on May 15 to celebrate accomplishments and successes at the 9th annual College Recognition Awards ceremony.

The celebration began with the acknowledgment of Debbie Yaddow as the recipient of the 2007-2008 Distinguished Faculty Award by Academic Senate President Dr. Chris Hill. Yaddow, Interim Associate Dean of Health Professions, has come full circle at Grossmont. After graduating with an associate degree in nursing from Grossmont College in 1983, she began teaching part-time at the college in 1984. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1985, and her master’s degree in nursing in 1987, both from the University of San Diego. Then, in 1991, she began teaching full-time at Grossmont College and received a Teaching Excellence Award in 1993.

In 2003, she was named the college’s Assistant Director of Nursing. In 2005, she was the keynote speaker at the college’s commencement ceremony. In 2006, she was named Director of Nursing. She recently was promoted to Interim Associate Dean. She is currently working on accreditation for the college’s school of nursing from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

After Yaddow was honored at the event, division deans presented Teaching Excellence Awards to faculty members. Recipients included Kathryn Ingrum (Child Development), Linda Snider (Business Office Technology), Joy Zozuk (Nursing), Ken Ard (Music), Thomas O’Rourke (Communication), Sydney Brown (English), Carmen Hernandez (Spanish), Gloria Moeller (Education), Eric Smith (Philosophy), Nemie Capacia and Michael Lambe (Mathematics), Joyce Haywood and Sharon Vilarino (Exercise Science & Wellness), Renee Tuller (Counseling) and Michael Perez (EOPS/Counseling).

Awards for Vice Presidents’ Support Staff Recognition were presented to: Laura Murphey, Admissions and Records Systems Specialist; MaryAnn Landry, Administrative Secretary; and, Patty Sparks, Administrative Secretary. Recognition was given to retirees for 2007-2008, including: David Agosto, Counselor-EOPS, 13 years; Benjamin Newkirk, Psychology, 33 years; Leslie Arnold, Student Services Specialist, 29 years; Val Eskridge, Instructional Media Services Coordinator, 35 years; Hsiu-Chih Jennings, Instructional Computer Facilities, 16 years; Linda Macosky, Administrative Secretary, 29 years; Donna Carol Ruiz, Evaluations Advisor, 33 years; Rosalind Scott, Printing Supervisor, 38 years; and, Arlene Stone, Administrative Secretary, 17 years.

Certificates in recognition of tenure status were presented to Roland Estrella (Nursing), Robert Henry (History) and Michael Jordan (Exercise Science). Seventy-four employees were recognized as Kudos Awards recipients, while 45 Club Advisors also were recognized. New degree recipients included Linda Yousif Hann (bachelor’s in business administration, SDSU) and Don Dean (master’s in educational technology, SDSU). Book/Article Publications award recipients included Edwardo Palma (AOJ), Paul Seaforth Kurokawa and Ken Ard (Music), Bonnie J. Ripley (Biology), Brian Hayter, Nancy Pipkin and Sydney Brown (English), Sky Chafin (Psychology), Angela Feres and Alan Renga (History) and Judd Curran (Geography). Innovator of the Year awards were presented to Jaime Marso (Geology) and Cary Willard ( Chemistry). The Grossmont College Foundation surprised Dr. Chris Hill with its Commitment to Service Award. The event concluded with President Cooke honoring Agustín Albarrán, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, with the President’s Leadership Award.