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Students, employees honored at annual awards banquet

As the spring semester comes to an end, Texarkana College took time on May 10 to honor students, faculty and staff for their achievements. More than 300 people attended the Spring Luncheon and Awards Assembly in the Truman Arnold Student Center, including members of the TC Board of Trustees.

Scroll down for a full listing of this year’s scholarship and award recipients, and visit the TC Flickr for photos of the event.

Mary Ellen Young, who helped coordinate the luncheon, referred to one of the recipients of the All-USA Community College Academic Team as her “right-hand man in Phi Theta Kappa for the last two years.”

“We’ve traveled on bus rides from Odessa, Texas to Nashville, Tenn. Many times he (Andrew Lusk) has missed out on other presentations to help with one of our presentations. He’s always a presenter at leadership conferences and honors conferences,” said Young, who also serves as faculty advisor of Phi Theta Kappa and interim division chair of Humanities and the Performing Arts.

Lusk and Laurie Mitchell are the recipients of the All-USA Community College Academic Team, which is also recognized as the All-Texas Academic Team Scholarship. Mitchell will receive a scholarship of $12,000 a year to attend college and plans to attend the University of Texas in Arlington. Lusk, who is still undecided, has the option of attending the University of Texas in Arlington, Texas A&M University in Commerce or Texas A&M University in Texarkana.

Michael Cooper, a member of the Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts, presented three art awards, three TexRep awards and two music awards.

Jerry Hutchison presented $27,000 worth of Faculty Association Scholarships, which grant $1,000 for one academic year.

Hutchison also recognized Amanda Wise as the recipient of the $1,500 Dr. Carl M. Nelson Memorial Scholarship.

Dr. Carol Hodgson, division chair of Health Occupations, presented several health occupations scholarships ranging from $400 to $1,300.

“We award scholarships throughout the year. In January, we were able to award over $20,000 to some of our students. Today, we will be presenting over $8,000 in scholarships,” Hodgson said.

Hodgson is also retiring after 40 years of service at TC and was recognized for her service during the program.

Financial Aid Director Martin Hernandez presented three students with the Jake & Bessie Eldridge Memorial Scholarships.

“This scholarship will financially assist those students who continue their educational pursuits at universities throughout Texas,” Hernandez said. “Recipients of the Eldridge Scholarship must not only demonstrate academic excellence, but exceptional character as well. They reflect some of the best values that faculty and staff can impart upon their students at Texarkana College.”

Each student will receive $2,000 a semester for up to four years.

Dianna Kinsey, the 2012 Endowed Chair, announced Dean of Students Robert Jones as the 2013 recipient of the TC Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence.

Kinsey began by describing the recipient as a person who “wears many hats in and out of the classroom, on and off of our campus.”

“He is a professor who truly cares about the students not only in the classroom but in their lives,” Kinsey said.

Jones accepted the award, but not without expressing his gratitude.

“It is indeed an honor to be given this award. And I can only hope that I can uphold some of the principles of those who have received this award before me,” Jones said.

TC President James Henry Russell and Chief Instructional Officer Vernon Wilder presented four Presidential Scholarships. These students attend various high schools in the area. In addition, faculty and staff who have served from 5 to 40 years at TC were recognized.

The smiles and energy continued, especially when Dean of Students Robert Jones re-entered the Great Room wearing a strongman suit.

“This is like the Olympics here,” Jones said, as the crowd laughed.

This year, TC faculty and staff participated in an eight-week Take Charge Fitness Challenge.

“These last eight weeks have been just unbelievable. I heard some of the funniest things at the weigh-in…but it has been fun and exciting,” said Jones, as the crowd laughed.

Jones, who spearheaded the fitness challenge, announced winners of various challenges, highest percentage of weight loss, and highest cumulative number of steps as a team.

TC President Russell concluded the event with words of gratitude to everyone involved in helping TC.

“It has been a great luncheon, a great year. And we have so many things to be thankful for,” Russell said.

 

All-USA Community College Academic Team (with All-Texas Academic Team Scholarship)

 

Jake & Bessie Eldridge Memorial Scholarship Recipients

 

Presidential Scholarships

 

Dr. Carl Nelson Memorial Scholarship

 

Faculty Association Scholarships

 

Four States Regional Art Club Scholarships

 

Wednesday Music Club Scholarship

 

Tex*Rep Scholarships

 

Outstanding Music Students for 2012-2013

 

Health Occupations Scholarship Recipients

 

2013 Endowed Chair

 

Faculty & Staff 5-Year Service Awards

 

Faculty & Staff 10-Year Service Awards

 

Faculty & Staff 15-Year Service Awards

 

Faculty & Staff 20-Year Service Awards

 

Faculty & Staff 25-Year Service Awards

 

Faculty & Staff 30-Year Service Awards

 

Faculty & Staff 35-Year Service Awards

 

Faculty & Staff 40-Year Service Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

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