Events
Students, Faculty and Staff Recognized for Excellence
RALEIGH, N.C. (April 22, 2024) – Wake Tech celebrated the best of the best during An Evening of Excellence on Monday at Southern Wake Campus.
Twenty-four faculty and staff members were recognized for their service and dedication, and seven students received student achievement awards. The Excellence Awards are sponsored annually by the Wake Tech Foundation, which receives and administers private funds for scholarships and college programs.
Award recipients were treated to a special dinner and videos recognizing their accomplishments. Everyone received a plaque to display and a cash award.
Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls thanked the employees and students for their hard work and commitment to the college.
"We have excellence in every corner of Wake Tech," said Ralls. "Regardless of what your role is, you are heroes of the hallways. Thank you for everything you do for the college and our community.:
Seven students received an Academic Excellence Award:
- Michael Mileski, Building, Engineering & Skilled Technologies
- Bumi Oh, Business & Public Service Technologies
- Cynthia Garcia Cruz, Health Sciences
- Chloe He, Information Technology
- Grace Linares, Liberal Arts
- Hannah Blackwelder, Nursing
- Andrew Rasberry, Transportation Technologies
Eleven faculty members received the Excellence in Teaching Award:
- Cathleen DiDonato, Accessibility Services
- Hessam Ghassemi, Building, Engineering & Skilled Technologies
- Shamber R. Gentry, Business & Public Services Technologies
- Donald Little, Health Sciences
- Eleanor Ward Miles, Individualized Learning Center
- Sandellyo A. Kauba, Information Technology
- Julie Anne Greenberg, Liberal Arts
- Melinda M. Gibbs, Mathematics & Sciences
- Shawnta Bowens Locus, Nursing
- Sin (Alex) Tang, Transportation Technologies
- Hugo Arias, Workforce Continuing Education
Five adjunct faculty members received the Excellence in Adjunct Teaching Award:
- Andi Laska, Building, Engineering & Skilled Technologies
- Dr. Theodore Mayer, Health Sciences
- Ken Applequist, Information Technology
- Aylim De Chazal, Liberal Arts
- Rafael Perez, Workforce Continuing Education
Brian Gann, vice president of Enrollment & Student Services, received the Excellence in Executive Leadership Award.
Four staff members received the Excellence in Leadership Award:
- Michael C. Coleman, Enrollment & Student Services
- Paula Roberts, Enrollment & Student Services
- Trudy Clark, Health Sciences
- Michael R. Schneider, Workforce Continuing Education
Three staff members received the Excellence in Service Award:
- Michelle Fauver, Communications & Marketing
- Janeth Escobar, Enrollment & Student Services
- Pat Vandawalker, Financial & Business Services
Five winners were given special awards. Special congratulations to Instructor of the Year Cathleen DiDonato and Staff Member of the Year Paula Roberts, who will represent Wake Tech at the North Carolina Community College System Excellence Competition.
Ken Applequist was the Adjunct Teacher of the Year. Bumi Oh, who will graduate in May with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education, was named the Dwight O. Ryan Outstanding Student of the Year.
Stephen Hodgkins received the Volunteer of the Year Award. He has been volunteering with WAVES, Wake Tech's College & Career Readiness tutoring program, for seven years. Hodgkins helps students in Wake Tech's Adult Basic Education program realize their educational dreams and career goals.
