Employees of the Year reflect SCC excellence

The 2010 Employees of the Year awards have been announced and they recognize outstanding achievements across campus. 

Adjunct Faculty of the Year

Polly Chapman and Beth Livingston of the music department were awarded the adjunct faculty members of the year for their work in revamping the Musical Theater Department at SCC.

“I was absolutely shocked, surprised, and honored to win this award,” Chapman said. Chapman has been an adjunct faculty member for less than two years and has worked to bring back musical theater to the campus. Chapman received her award with Livingston and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m really thrilled to receive this honor, and it’s gratifying to be acknowledged for one’s hard work and dedication,” Livingston said, adding, “Polly and I have the bonus of teaching classes that are fun, exciting and very connective with the students.”

Faculty of the Year

Journalism director and Faculty of the Year Julie Knapp has a unique approach to teaching.  “I call it life on life, breath on breath,” Knapp said, explaining, “It means that I make a decision to walk beside them (students), not in front of them and not behind them.”

Knapp credits the recognition to the way she and her students handled the First Amendment conflict last year and the development of Heart to Heart, a non-profit organization that feeds struggling students. Knapp says she finds her inspiration from her students who give of themselves freely, and said that in order to honor them, she must do the same.

M&O Employee of the Year

Myron Taylor, a Salt River Community member, has received Employee of the Year Award for 2010.

“I’m excited," he says. “I wasn’t expecting it at all. It’s more than a pat on the back. “
Taylor, who has worked on the grounds crew since 2001, often cooks lunches for his fellow co-workers.

“I think it’s the first time I’ve seen anyone on grounds get anything like this,” Taylor said, adding, “Everybody’s been congratulating me for it.”

Professional Staff Employee of the Year

Mary McKeever is receiving the Professional Staff Employee of the Year award. She is an administrative assistant in the Curriculum Office and has been at SCC for 19 years.

McKeever is a member of SCC’s Instructional Strategic Technology Advisory Committee, the Strategic Planning Task Force and will be graduating this month from the women’s leadership group mentor program.  McKeever also helps produce the annual college catalog.

“I feel very blessed to be working at SCC…I have great co-workers and supervisors and I appreciate the wonderful professional growth opportunities Maricopa has provided me,” McKeever said.

MAT Employee of the Year

Catherine Dragon received the Management, Administration and Technology 2010 Employee of the Year award and credits her colleagues for the achievement, saying, “With the help of my stellar team, Tami Updegraff and Zachary Stauber, we work behind the scenes to ensure students, staff and the community have great experiences at our college.”

Before coming to SCC, Dragon spent 28 years in professional theater, film and television, working on several feature films, TV shows and even worked on the Oscars. Now, at SCC, Dragon works in Fine Arts and Instructional Technology.

Dragon watches over multi-purpose performance facilities and does specialized teaching labs for the Fine Arts division. Dragon coordinates and manages events, both large and small on SCC campus.