{"id":28,"date":"2023-07-30T22:52:30","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T05:52:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/new-foundation-dev\/?page_id=28"},"modified":"2025-05-01T12:31:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T19:31:22","slug":"bc-excellence-awards-winners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/what-we-do\/bc-excellence-awards\/bc-excellence-awards-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"BC Excellence Award Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Our 2024-25 Faculty & Staff Excellence Award Winners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Full-Time Faculty Award
Travis McKinney, English<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A part of the BC community since 2015, Travis is a dedicated faculty member in the English department. Nominated by multiple students for the second year in a row, they emphasize his ability to create an inclusive, collaborative, and engaged classroom community \u2013 even in online instruction. His innovative approach to English 101 has been transformative for students, who highlight his kindness and patience in working through difficult situations. Congratulations Travis!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMr. McKinney develops an excellent community that promotes ideas that although contradictory, promote open discussion, whether it is about topics such as body dysmorphia, mental illnesses, nihilism, and other seemingly sensitive areas. His ability to create a diverse community that encourages open disagreement but still feels inclusive, collaborative, and tight-knit is unparalleled. Through his encouragement, students felt part of a community of thinkers, which reflects Bellevue College\u2019s commitment to creating an open, safe, and accessible academic environment. Hands down Mr. McKinney is the best English instructor I have ever had!\u201d<\/p>\nNominator<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Part-Time Faculty Award
Humaira Jackson, Economics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s been more than two decades since Humaira started at BC, and the impact she has made on the campus is nothing short of transformational. From helping to establish the college\u2019s first real-time data dashboard as Data Lead for the Faculty Commons, to the development of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning pilot, to the upgrade of Econ 100, her leadership and achievements have helped raise the bar for Bellevue College. Congratulations Humaira!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cHumaira strives to create impactful courses that promote equity and excellence. I know that she is deeply reflective of her teaching materials and methods as we often have conversations about what has worked in our courses and what hasn\u2019t. This is non-stop for Humaira; she consistently strives to find ways to engage students through the lens of economics. She is a meaningful participant in our department, often volunteering to take on extra work at the department level. She is one of the most kind and humble people that you will meet. She is dedicated to her profession, to the college, and most importantly, to her students and their success. She is a treasure to our community.\u201d<\/p>\nNominator<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Classified Employee Award
Yelena Zlotnik, Basic & Transitional Studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"Yelena<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A longtime Program Specialist in Basic & Transitional Studies, Yelena has helped thousands of students find their footing at Bellevue College. Her many nominations this year (and over the last two years!) highlight the incredible passion and dedication she brings to her work, both in her service of students and in support of faculty. She is a trusted source of guidance and assistance for everyone lucky enough to work with her, and the care she demonstrates on a daily basis is a true hallmark of her many years at BC. Congratulations Yelena!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cYelena always puts students at the center of her work as Program Specialist. Through her gifts as a listener and her language expertise, she supports ESL students as they simultaneously learn English and engage in college processes such as registration and state-mandated testing. Throughout the years as an ESL instructor, I have observed that the students in my classes consistently have high praise for Yelena. They appreciate her willingness to help them, her knowledge and her kind manner. Yelena’s welcoming and inclusive manner is a key component to the open and safe culture of the ESL Program. Students and faculty are comfortable asking Yelena questions. She is knowledgeable, and importantly, listens with care and patience. Faculty and students “feel heard” when working with Yelena – and this listening quality contributes to the positive culture of the ESL Program.\u201d<\/p>\nNominator<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Exempt Employee Award
Barbara Brodsky, TRiO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Since 2001 Barbara Brodsky has dedicated her time at BC in service to the TRiO program. She is retiring this year, and many of the peer mentors who serve in the TRiO program under her leadership nominated her in honor of her outstanding career. Her faith in students and support of their achievements has been transformative in thousands of lives, building bridges to success and providing the wraparound support that truly makes a difference. Congratulations Barbara!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI joined the TRIO program during my second quarter at Bellevue College seeking guidance because I had nobody to rely on as a first-generation college student. During the same quarter, I had realized that I was struggling to stay on track, juggling life and schoolwork. I reached out to Ms. Brodsky for help and she graciously offered to have weekly check-ins to help me stay focused and get back on track. She helped me create a study schedule (that I still use to this day!), and helped cultivate a healthier mindset around school. Ms. Brodsky has played a crucial role in my time at Bellevue College. Since our weekly check-ins (which is now about a year ago), I can now say that I am a successful college student. I have been consistently showing up to class, getting grades that I am proud of and overall, feel more positive about college life than ever before and I owe most of my success to those weekly check-ins. She deserves to be recognized for her outstanding dedication to better the community at Bellevue College. She has helped guide me and many other students through a time that is unknown to most of us. I am deeply grateful for the positive impact that Ms. Brodsky has had on my life and my experience at Bellevue College.\u201d<\/p>\nNominator<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Thank You and Congratulations to All Our Nominees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We were inspired by the nominations we received this year. We feel humbled to read about the many ways that our outstanding staff and faculty nurture and support our students every single day. Congratulations to all the 2024-25 Faculty & Staff Excellence Award nominees!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martina Almario \u2022 Tina Amaro Stegge \u2022 Kalpana Kalpna Anand \u2022 Jennifer Anderson \u2022 Salam Awad \u2022 Gretchen Bird \u2022 Rex Bobbish \u2022 Ernesto Bowie \u2022 Darnita Boynton \u2022 Tamara Boynton Howard \u2022 Alicia Brender \u2022 Greyson Brooks \u2022 Michael Broome \u2022 Katie Bryant \u2022 Kelli Callahan \u2022 Dianne Caraway \u2022 Tiara Carlson \u2022 Annika Carson \u2022 Jennifer Celms \u2022 Rini Chakrabarti \u2022 Ricardo Chavez \u2022 Wentao Chen \u2022 Teaessa Chism \u2022 Thomas Crawford \u2022 Beth Crouse \u2022 Kattie Ph\u01b0\u01a1ng Dung Dang \u2022 Eric Davis \u2022 Matthew Edwards \u2022 Branden Ellsworth \u2022 Sandra Emerson \u2022 Oriana Estrada \u2022 Myriam Feldman \u2022 Jennifer Fetters \u2022 Gina Fiorini \u2022 Caroline Fitzpatrick \u2022 Charlene Freyberg \u2022 Colin Gasamis \u2022 Jamie Gayden \u2022 Laura Gettleman \u2022 Bart (Robert) Guyton \u2022 Hector Guzman \u2022 Minnat Hamada \u2022 Elizabeth Harazim \u2022 Lisa Harris \u2022 Anneke Hercules \u2022 Tyler Hersey \u2022 Vlasta Hillger \u2022 Varik Hoang \u2022 Rachel Hutto \u2022 Anand Injeti \u2022 Katie Irwin \u2022 Miki Ishihara \u2022 Alice Jenkins \u2022 Craighton Jenkins \u2022 Jon Jensen \u2022 Ciarelle Jimenez \u2022 Amy Jing \u2022 Shadi Kanan \u2022 Allison Kang \u2022 Lori Keller \u2022 Guzel Khakimova \u2022 Supreetha Kumar \u2022 Joel Lamb \u2022 Li Liu \u2022 Celeste Lonson \u2022 Jamiiru Luttamaguzi \u2022 Melissa Martinez \u2022 Narges Masoumi \u2022 Amy McCrory \u2022 Claire McKinley \u2022 Heather Miller \u2022 Ann Minks \u2022 Daniel Mitchell \u2022 Amanda Morris \u2022 Max Needle \u2022 Alfred Nehme \u2022 Renee Nejo \u2022 Budimir Nikolic \u2022 Eva Norling \u2022 Sara Nutsch \u2022 Pete Ophoven \u2022 Nataliya Perelomova \u2022 Pavel Poliansky \u2022 Kimberly Pollock \u2022 Kolin Poss \u2022 Peter Prescott \u2022 Michael Pulido \u2022 Luke Rawlings \u2022 Emiko Rigg \u2022 Usman Rizvi \u2022 Keith Rowley \u2022 Croix Salina \u2022 Linda Schinman \u2022 Greg Schmidt \u2022 Daniel Shade \u2022 Layne Shilston \u2022 Catherine Smith \u2022 David Spataro \u2022 Patrick Torres \u2022 Timothy Trammel \u2022 Michelle Tresemer \u2022 Andria Villines \u2022 Dana Vukajlovich \u2022 Liz Warfield \u2022 Cynthia Weintraub \u2022 Cole Whitaker \u2022 Tim Winchester \u2022 Phouvanh Xaya-Outhone \u2022 Elizabeth Zahrt Geib<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nominations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you know someone deserving of the BC Excellence Award? Learn about the nomination process<\/a> and how you can be involved in the nomination and selection of the next round of winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn About Our Other Signature Programs<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our 2024-25 Faculty & Staff Excellence Award Winners Full-Time Faculty AwardTravis McKinney, English A part of the BC community since 2015, Travis is a dedicated faculty member in the English department. Nominated by multiple students for the second year in a row, they emphasize his ability to create an inclusive, collaborative, and engaged classroom community ...more about BC Excellence Award Winners<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3261,"featured_media":0,"parent":26,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-28","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3261"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1973,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28\/revisions\/1973"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/foundation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}