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April 2, 2012wingspan.lccc.wy.educampus newsWACCT award nomineesSix honored for dedication to collegeWingspan 25Misty HeilJeff ShmidlSandra SurbruggAaron CasteelJanice CheeverSix people associated withLaramie County CommunityCollege were honored fortheir leadership Feb. 23 bythe Wyoming Association ofCommunity College Trustees.As reported in February, JohnKaiser, who has served on theLCCC board of trustees since1996, won the statewide trusteeleadership award for his activeparticipation in influencinglegislation, for promotion of thegovernance system at LCCC andfor involvement in the selectionof interim and permanentpresidents.The nomination noted Kaiser“often challenges his fellowboard members by asking toughquestions. He is not contentto go along with the popularopinion when he recognizes thatthe prevailing ideas may lead thecollege down the wrong path.His insight has been useful inensuring the right discussionsare made not only for todaybut also for tomorrow and thefuture.”Others who were nominatedfor leadership awards intheir specific categories wereMisty Heil, student; Jeff Shmidl,faculty; Dr. Sandra Surbrugg,Foundation; Aaron Casteel,classified employee; and JaniceCheever, professional staff.Misty HeilMisty Heil was nominatedby the LCCC Associated StudentGovernment. She currentlyholds a cumulative 3.638 GPAand has not received a gradelower than an A since 2007.She is involved on campus asa member of numerous associations.Heil is the ASG treasurer,co-chair of the LCCC CollegeCouncil and the Alpha OmegaZeta chapter president in thePhi Theta Kappa honor society.She also serves on the studentboard of directors to improveLCCC good service and is leadinga campaign on campus toimprove the recycling process.However, Heil is active outsideof the college as well. Sheserves as a director for the boardof Wyoming Energy Council,a scholarship service memberof Americorps, a committeewomanin her voting precinct, acitizen lobbyist and a mother oftwo young boys.Jeff ShmidlJeff Shmidl, economics andfinance instructor, was nominatedfor the WACCT 2011–2012faculty member award. ArshiRizwani-Nisley, an Englishinstructor at LCCC, who nominatedShmidl, said he has beendedicated to providing the besteducation for LCCC students.Shmidl began working atLCCC in 2004, and Nisley saidthat during the last seven years,he has demonstrated excellencein teaching not only by improvinghis program but also bybeing an expert teacher. He hasserved as the first president ofthe newly reorganized FacultySenate.Shmidl has improved his programby updating the economicsdegree into an economicsand finance degree articulatedfor transfer with the Universityof Wyoming.Class evaluations from studentsin Shmidl’s classes praisethe instructor. One student commented,“Mr. Shmidl is a veryknowledgeable man who lovesto teach and enlighten others.”Not only has Shmidl beenpraised for his teaching , but hehas also dedicated his time inadvising students in Phi ThetaKappa at LCCC and has beeninvolved in the Alpha OmegaZeta Chapter since 2006. Also,from 2006–2009 Shmidl served aterm on the Academic StandardsCommittee, where he was presidentfor the last two years.Nisley said Shmidl demonstratesprofessionalism andthoughtfulness in his decisions,which are always basedon “‘how can we support ourfaculty members to help themserve our students.’”Among other awards, duringthe time Shmidl has been atLCCC, he has received the LCCCFaculty Excellence Award forthe 2006–2007 and 2009–2010school years.Overall, Nisley said Shmidl’s“efforts at our campus andthroughout the state have trulyhelped to create and foster amore productive atmospherededicated to educational excellenceand collaboration.Dr. Sandra SurbruggDr. Sandra Surbrugg, memberof the LCCC Foundationboard, was nominated as2011–2012 foundation volunteerof the year award.Surbrugg was nominated byLisa Trimble, director of alumniaffairs and event planning ofthe LCCC Foundation, becauseof her dedication to the LCCCFoundation through her time,talents and monetary giving.Surbrugg has served 13 yearsas a member of the FoundationBoard and has been an engagedand vocal member.Trimble said Surbrugggraciously supports the LiteraryConnection and is a lead sponsorannually, which bringsreaders and writers together onthe LCCC campus to learn fromnationally recognized authors.In addition to her monetarysupport of this event, she alsohosts the author dinner inher home as well. The dinnergives potential donors a closerlook at LCCC, its scholarshipopportunities and the LiteraryConnection itself.Because of Surbrugg’s involvementwith the event, thereached audience has grownwell beyond the limits of theLCCC campus.Aaron CasteelAaron Casteel, shipping, receivingand warehouse assistantat LCCC, was nominated for2011–2012 classified employee ofthe year award.Casteel was nominated forthis award by Betsy Krahenbuhl,office assistant in the collegepresident’s office. Krahenbuhlsaid she nominated Casteelbecause of his helpfulness andwillingness to go the extra mileto make other employees’ liveseasier. Krahenbuhl also saidCasteel is highly knowledgeablewith the equipment related tomailings and is very willing towork with last-minute requests.She said he is detail-orientedand always has a pleasing demeanor.Outside of work, Casteel ishighly involved with the community,volunteering for LCCCsporting events, the LaramieCounty Sheriff’s office andthe Cheyenne Junior LeagueBaseball.“Aaron is a sterling employeeand a fine example of a committedcommunity collegeand community supporter,”Krahenbuhl said.Janice CheeverJanice Cheever, technicalskill training specialist at LCCC,was nominated for 2011–2012professional employee of theyear award.Cheever was nominated forthe award by Maryellen Tast,dean of the lifelong learningcenter, who said Cheever is theepitome of excellence on the job.Cheever has had a consistentlyhigh score in classroom evaluationsand has taken it uponherself to gain and maintainher Microsoft Office Specialistcertifications, Tast said.When the community askedfor short-term training in othersoftware besides Microsoft,Cheever worked to gain expertisein various Adobe productsas well as Intuit QuickBooks,Tast said.The number of communitymembers attending Cheever’sclasses has increased from abase of zero seven years ago tomore than 600 a year today.Cheever has worked withLCCC employees to help themachieve a higher skill in computersoftware. She has alsodesigned several databases fordifferent areas of the college andis currently redesigning the databaseused by public relationsat LCCC.“These classes help improvethe productivity of LCCC employees,”Tast said. “She listensto the needs of our southeastWyoming community and isconstantly customizing trainingto help address those needsand improve the skills of ourworkforce.”