CCC Selects NISOD Excellence Award Recipients
For Immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Nicolle Holcomb, Director of Communication and Marketing
Clovis Community College
417 Schepps Blvd.
Clovis, NM 88101
CCC Selects NISOD Excellence Award Recipients
Clovis Community College is proud to announce its recipients of the annual National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards. The 2024 honorees include Elena Soto, Nursing Instructor and Michelle Hughes, Science Instructor.
“Clovis Community College has amazing faculty, and the NISOD award is a way to highlight faculty as they demonstrate excellence in teaching and student support,” said Dr. Robin Kuykendall, Executive Vice President. “This year’s NISOD winners exude that excellence, and we are so proud of both Elena and Michelle. This award is recognition of the work they are doing to make a difference in our students’ lives.”
“I cannot imagine a more fulfilling career than the one I have. CCC has allowed my passion for education and nursing to come together in one place. I am truly grateful to work alongside faculty, students, and staff who challenge and inspire me. I have been afforded many opportunities in my career, and my goal has always been to give back to the institution where it all began,” said Elena Soto.
NISOD’s Excellence Awards recognize men and women each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues. In 1989, in connection with a University of Texas at Austin national study of teaching excellence, NISOD hosted its first ceremony honoring NISOD Excellence Award recipients. The response to that ceremony was so positive that NISOD began what has become the largest and most inspiring gathering that recognizes the contributions and achievements of community and technical college faculty, administrators, and staff.
“I have several quotes I use with students when they are struggling and need a boost, both from Albert Einstein. The first is ‘A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new’ and the second is ‘If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough’,” said Michelle Hughes.
Excellence Award recipients will be recognized during NISOD’s annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, May 25-28. Excellence Awards recipients receive a specially cast pewter medallion hung on a burnt-orange ribbon. The names, titles, and colleges of all Excellence Award recipients are included in a special booklet that features congratulatory ads from many of the recipients’ colleges. In addition, presentations at the conference involving Excellence Award recipients are indicated in the Conference Program with a special icon.
“Recognizing those individuals who have contributed to student success and their colleges’ mission is something we look forward to doing each year,” said Dr. Edward J. Leach, NISOD’s Executive Director. “The extraordinary work of these men and women includes not only what they do for their students and colleagues, but what they do for the communities in which they live and work. We’re honored to be able to play a part in celebrating their achievements.”
NISOD is a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges. NISOD provides budget-friendly, high-quality, and faculty-focused programs and resources for community and technical colleges that want to make the most of their professional development dollars. For over 40 years, NISOD has aligned a wide array of benefits with the needs of our members, which explains why the American Association of Community Colleges named NISOD, “The country’s leading provider of professional development for community college faculty, staff, and administrators.” For more information about NISOD, visit www.nisod.org.
For more information contact Nicolle Holcomb, Director of Communication and Marketing at holcombn@clovis.edu or Dr. Robin Kuykendall at kuykendallr@clovis.edu.
Clovis Community College (CCC) provides high-quality education and training that improves the lives of all students and ignites economic vitality in the Eastern New Mexico Region. CCC offers over 66 associate degree and certificate programs, community development, and customized business training and adult education in face-to-face or online formats. Whether the courses are on campus or online, they are taught by dedicated and qualified faculty.