College faculty, staff members recognized

Trevis Hicks, information systems and networking technology instructor at Tri-County Community College, receives his Excellence in Teaching Award from President Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers at the college's 2018 commencement ceremony on May 11.

During Tri-County Community College’s 2018 commencement ceremony, one faculty and one staff member were honored in front of graduating students, as well as their fellow faculty and staff colleagues as college officials recognized the annual excellence award winners.

 According to college administrators, every year one full-time faculty and staff member are nominated by their peers to receive the college’s Excellence Award.

 The 2018 recipient for the full-time faculty award was Trevis Hicks, information systems and networking technology instructor. 

 “The recipient of this year’s Excellence in Teaching Award for full-time faculty embodies the ‘community’ part of Tri-County Community College. He is one of ours in every sense. He began his education here as a student back in the day, and he has been on the faculty here for many years,” said Dr. Steve Wood, vice president for instruction and institutional effectiveness at Tri-County Community College.

 Hicks, who has served as an instructor at the college for 22 years, was also recognized for his willingness to help students succeed even after earning their degree at the college.

 “He takes a personal interest in his students, doing his best to help them get jobs after completing school.  He can normally tell you, off the top of his head, where there are job openings and who to contact for a job application,” Wood said before inviting Hicks to the stage to receive his award from Tri-County Community College President Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers.

 Also recognized was part-time faculty member William Coble, who teaches religion classes at Tri-County Community College, but was unable to attend the ceremony.

Helen Kilpatrick, human resources assistant at Tri-County Community College, was the full-time staff member recipient of the award for Excellence in Service.

“She is someone I can honestly say always has a smile on her face,” Tipton-Rogers said. “She is always ready and willing to go above and beyond in anything we might ask her to do.”

Kilpatrick has worked at the college for 20 years, and in her tearful acceptance she thanked her colleagues and college officials.

“Everything we do is for our students,” Kilpatrick said. “I’m honored to receive this award.”

Helen Kilpatrick, human resources assistant at Tri-County Community College, receives her Excellence in Service Award from President Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers at the college's 2018 commencement ceremony on May 11.​