Rappahannock Community College Faculty and Staff Win Awards
Rappahannock Community College (RCC) recently announced the winners of the College’s IDEAL Awards. Presented annually to a full-time instructional faculty member; a full-time classified staff, an administrative, or professional faculty member; an adjunct faculty member; and a dual enrollment instructor, the award focuses on RCC’s values.
The award’s name comes from an acronym encompassing the College’s values Integrity; Diversity and inclusion; Excellence; Access; and, Learning for Life. Students, colleagues and community members have the opportunity to nominate an RCC employee for the award. In addition to recognition and accolades, the awards come with a monetary prize.
Winners are:
Diane Tulipani, adjunct faculty biology. Nominators commended Tulipani on her excellent work ethic and as a role model for her students.
Taylor Morris, part-time staff, HR Specialist. “Taylor is deeply committed to providing exceptional customer service. She is always approachable, patient, and willing to go the extra mile to assist both colleagues and customers,” said one of her nominators.
Paris Nelson, full-time staff, Admissions and Records Technician. Comments on Nelson’s nominations included, “delivers the best service,” “positive, interruptible, and conscientious,” and “always willing to stop what she’s doing to help.”
Santosh Bhattarai, full-time faculty, Professor of Mathematics. One of Bhattarai’s students praised him by saying, “He provided instructions and a note with a related example…He also gave us the option to ask questions if we needed more support. He is one of the best instructors.”
Dr. Ralph D. Elliott established an award in 2022 to annually recognize and honor an RCC instructor, staff member, or administrator who has promoted initiatives in the field of workforce credential or continuing education in a worthy and exemplary manner. This year’s winner of the Dr. Ralph D. Elliott Award is Bill Pittman, Welding Instructor. Pittman brings his years of experience as a welder to the classroom and as one student said, “he explains the ‘why’ so we do better.”
“Each year I look forward to reading the nominations and agree that all of our faculty and staff are worthy of awards,” said RCC President Shannon Kennedy. “I congratulate the winners and all those who were nominated.”