Four employees honored with “Margin of Excellence” awards

During a campus ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 6, the Bellevue College Foundation honored four outstanding employees with “Margin of Excellence” awards, which recognize their selfless commitment to helping students and colleagues achieve success.

• Gita Bangera, Ph.D. – Instructor, Life Sciences – for creating a research-based biology curriculum that is revolutionizing the way science education is taught in higher education, helping her students achieve success in science and technology fields
• Patricia Dombrowski – Director of Life Science Informatics Center – for her efforts to develop training programs in the fast-growing field of Health Information Technology, for which she secured the largest single grant ($11.8 million) in the history of BC
• Mark Mappala – Instructor, Interior Design – for combining his incredible eye for design with an innovative and passionate teaching style that has helped his students grow and mature as interior designers
• Becky Turnbull – Periodical Technician, Library Media Center – for her exceptional service in support of the on-campus library, as well as her dedication to serving the broader campus community

Nominations come from students, faculty and staff, and each winner receives a $1,000 prize. In all, 139 employees have received the award since its inception 28 years ago.

Directed by a board of 30 community volunteers, the Foundation, established in 1978, is a non-profit organization that receives and manages individual and corporate gifts on behalf of Bellevue College.  Last year, the Foundation raised $1.4 million to support quality educational opportunities for the college’s students, including scholarships, program enhancements and equipment purchases. Learn more about the Foundation by visiting http://bellevuecollege.edu/foundation/.