Wallace State’s 2014 Chancellor’s Award recipients recognized at ACCA Conference banquet

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Four Wallace State Community College employees were recognized this week as the college’s Chancellor Award recipients at the 2014 Alabama Community College Association (ACCA) Conference luncheon in Birmingham.
Wallace State’s nominees were Ricky Burks, Barbara Ebert, Diana Majerik and Teresa Gibbs.
Burks is Wallace State’s Music Department Chair and the Academic Faculty nominee. Burks has been an employee at Wallace State for more than 20 years, first as an adjunct, and then as a full-time music instructor. Burks directs the Wallace State Jazz Band and oversees a diverse arts faculty at the Burrow Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. Burks is a professional musician himself, performing with renowned ensembles and orchestras throughout the South. Among his contributions to Wallace State, Burks founded the Saxophone Quartet, which has performed frequently for students, faculty, staff and community members.
He has also been active with various community organizations, including the Cullman Community Band. Many band directors and music teachers in Alabama were inspired by Burks after attending the Wallace State Music Department.
Ebert is Wallace State’s Career Faculty nominee. She is the program director of Wallace State’s Dental Hygiene and Assisting programs. Ebert has taught at Wallace State for 18 years, including being director of the programs for 10 years. Ebert became one of the first instructors in her department to utilize technology to help support her students’ learning. Ebert exhibits her commitment to the profession of dentistry and her community by sitting on the Southeastern Regional Dental Board (SRTA) and the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies Dental Board (CITA).
Majerik is Wallace State’s Director of Dual Enrollment, Fast Track and Off Campus programs and the Director/Administrative Staff nominee this year. Majerik inherited her position as Director of Dual Enrollment in October 2013 after serving a role in the Wallace State English Department since 2009. As Director of Dual Enrollment, Majerik administers to eligible high school students in Blount, Cullman, Morgan, and Winston Counties. The program has recently consisted of more than 400 students. Majerik was instrumental in the selection of the “Who’s Next?” software product that has greatly reduced barriers to entry at the one-stop Lion Central desk at the Bailey Center. She has also taught classes in two different disciplines and worked on numerous committees and projects.
Gibbs works in the Wallace State ACTION Center and with Lion Central operations. She is this year’s Staff Member nominee. Gibbs frequently covers the Lion Central desk at the Bailey Center, an area which demands exceptional patience, professionalism and knowledge, especially during busy registration periods. Gibbs reaches out and assists other departments at the Bailey Center as well. Gibbs has been employed at Wallace State for more than 11 years, spending her first five years in Hanceville working in financial aid. She has previously completed the Leadership Wallace State program and is actively involved in the community, volunteering at her local church throughout the year to provide charity to those in need.
The Chancellor’s Awards began 27 years ago as a way to reward and encourage those who have exemplified outstanding performance, creativity and dedicated service to their college.
Each of Wallace State’s nominees is also a recipient of the Wallace State Education Achievement Award given annually to employees who consistently demonstrate exceptional job performance beyond routine expectations in areas such as personal integrity, dependability, willingness to work with others, punctuality, efficiency, classroom/workplace innovation and creativity. These winners participate in on-campus and off-campus activities beyond usual job expectations including professional development, fundraising, volunteerism, continuing education and leadership.
For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.

 

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Russell Moore
Staff Writer
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722    256-352-8443 direct
Russell.Moore@wallacestate.edu
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu
 
Kristen Holmes
Communications & Marketing Director
Wallace State Community College
801 Main Street NW | Hanceville, AL 35077
E-mail: kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu
Office: 256.352.8118 | Cell: 256.339.2519 | Toll Free: 866.350.9722
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