Employee awards

The Bergstein Award for Teaching Excellence is the highest honor for any faculty member at Delta College. The award is chosen by a vote by Delta College students and faculty. The Bergstein Family of Midland has sponsored this award since 1965, and it reflects their commitment to teaching excellence over the years.

2026 recipients

Denise Beasecker, associate professor of nursing
Barbara Syed, associate professor of office administration technology

The Ormond E. Barstow and Ludo K. Frevel Award for Scholarly Achievement is granted annually to a full-time employee who is judged by the committee to have made a distinguished contribution to the development of the body of knowledge of an academic discipline. This special award was created by two very good friends, Ormond E. Barstow and Ludo Frevel.

2026 recipient

Kara Jimenez, professor of lifelong wellness

This award recognizes an adjunct faculty member’s dedication to supporting the well-being, learning, growth and development of Delta College students. It was established by the Delta College Foundation and first given out in 2022, in memory of Eric “Q” Beckman — a beloved Delta associate professor of economics.

2026 recipient

Kendra Rogers, adjunct faculty of psychology

This award recognizes an exemplary administrative or professional staff member who has offered outstanding service to the college community and/or exceeded the scope of their position. The award honors Willie E. Thompson, who began his career at Delta College in 1970 and eventually as the vice president of Student and Educational Services. 

2026 recipient

Alison Ginter, belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion coordinator

Given by the Executive Committee for Administrative and Professional Staff (ECAPS), this award is in recognition of exemplary teamwork, resulting in substantial benefit to learning or outstanding service to the college community. The nomination may recognize a team that includes multiple employee groups of the college; however, at least 50% of the team must consist of administrative or professional staff members.

2026 recipients

Biology Lab team

Shelly Brandt, laboratory associate
Charlea Ford, laboratory coordinator
Kelsey Lewis, laboratory coordinator

The Lynn Heatley Award for Distinguished Service recognizes adjunct faculty who have provided outstanding service through their work at Delta and the community. George “Lynn” Heatley was an adult and vocational education consultant at Delta College from 1963 through 1978.

2026 recipient

Connie Sitter, adjunct faculty of Spanish

The Don Laughner Award for Creative Change may be given for: 1) Recognition of contributions resulting in significant institutional change; and 2) Significant change in areas such as organization, programming, staffing, curriculum, college procedures, governance structure or personal growth and development. During his years at Delta College (1964-1980), Don Laughner was a tireless and inspirational leader, a math professor, division chair, dean and senate president.

2026 recipients

Advising team

Kaitlin Atkinson, student success advisor
Cynthia Blahnik, team lead, business and technology advising
Tony Cianciolo, student success advisor
Shannon Doerr, student success advisor
Rachel Farmer, student success advisor
Jennifer Gaumer, team lead, arts and sciences advising
Riki Gross, student success advisor
Randall Hall, student success advisor, Midland Center/completion coordinator
Amy Howard, student success advisor
Raeann Keller-Jones, student success advisor
Addam Kraynak, student success advisor
Kimberly Mehl, student success advisor
Kristine Neveau, student success advisor
Brent Norman, student success advisor
Jessica Rubey, student success advisor
David Urbaniak, director of advising
Michelle White, team lead, health and wellness advising
Craig Wilson, student success advisor
Dan Wohlscheid, student success advisor

The Support Staff Excellence Award is presented by the Support Staff Executive Committee (SSEC) to a contributing member who exemplifies professionalism, service and dedication within Delta College, as well as positively represents the college in the community.

2026 recipient

Veronica Bond, business services purchasing specialist

The Carlyon Endowed Teaching Chair was first awarded in 1994 and it encourages faculty to pursue a professional activity/project and related follow-up which may include the development of new academic modules, infusion activities or service learning opportunities. Eligibility: All Delta College faculty who have taught full-time for the college for at least three years. This award honors President Emeritus Don Carlyon, his wife Betty and their many years of innovation and service to the Delta community. Don is the college's longest standing president from 1964–1992. In 1968, he led  Delta College to become a founding member of the League for Innovation in the Community College. 

The DeVinney Endowed Chair was first given in 2004 and honors Bob’s commitment to innovation in using technology in classroom teaching. Proposals focus on the innovative use or study of technology in the classroom or other learning environment. Eligibility: All Delta College full-time or adjunct faculty, or full-time and regular part-time staff whose work directly impacts student learning. Robert DeVinney, longtime professor of mathematics at Delta, is memorialized through the endowment that bears his name.

2025 recipients

Casey Armour, Rhonda Hughes-Seefeldt, Tim McGuire

Enhancing Anatomy and Physiology Learning with OER Virtual Lab Resources

Develop and share OER virtual lab resources for Anatomy and Physiology, including 3-D photogrammetry models, interactive diagrams, and virtual experiments. It will enhance student engagement, improve accessibility, and provide flexible learning, creating a more interactive and immersive experience in online and hybrid courses.

First awarded in 2006, this award supports and rewards innovations that foster excellence and have a direct impact on student learning. Proposals should focus on the development of new academic modules, infusion activities or teaching and learning approaches and involve cooperation of more than one department, discipline or division. Eligibility: Full-time faculty members, or adjunct faculty members or staff members who are working to impact student learning. The Ellucian Higher Education Endowed Teaching Chair was established by the Florida-based company that specializes in providing information technology services to colleges and universities nationwide.

2025 recipients

Kim Boldt, Chris Hausbeck, Kara Jimenez, Cindy Kramer, Pam Livingston, Daisy McQuiston, Danielle Petersen, Dan Sabourin, Laura Schmidt, Justin Sinicki, Ryan Teeple

A Preventative Care Model for Student Success in Healthcare

Develop eLearning modules and additional learning support resources for healthcare students to promote "academic wellness,'" program retention/completion, and national board licensing or certification exam success. Modules will integrate learning, study, and test-taking strategies to improve healthcare student preparedness, metacognition, and resilience.

The MacArthur Endowed Teaching Chair was first awarded in 2011 and is restricted for projects focused on the following subject areas: art, languages, music, literature, psychology or history. Proposals should set forth the primary values exemplified by Karen MacArthur during her tenure at Delta College: creativity and innovation. Eligibility: All full-time or adjunct faculty or Delta College staff. Karen MacArthur, who retired as executive director of the Delta College Foundation and Delta's executive director of Institutional Advancement in 2007, is honored through this endowment that bears her name.

The Robert R. “Dr. Bob” Zimmermann Endowed Teaching Chair was first awarded in 2020 to provide professional development opportunities for faculty members. Proposals must demonstrate the primary values exemplified by Dr. Bob during his tenure at Delta College, including his belief all students should be treated equitably, with an equal opportunity to learn.  Applications including general professional development projects for faculty members will be considered, including those working in areas of disabilities or different learning styles are welcome to apply. Eligibility: Faculty members who are directly involved in the teaching process.  This award was established by Dr. Stephanie and Dr. Ted Coopman in memory of her father, Robert “Dr. Bob” Zimmerman. Dr. Bob joyfully worked at Delta College from 1980 until his retirement in 1995. He often said that he found his professional home at Delta College and greatly appreciated the opportunity to join the Delta community.

2025 recipients

Andrea Bair, Aron Drake, Melissa Haswell, Jordan Hoffman, Kelsey Pressler

Supporting Environmental Science and Geology student success, career development and educational pathways at Delta

Reform our environmental science and geology courses and associated programs to support student course success and reduce equity gaps, align our curricula with current workforce needs in collaboration with 4YC partners, and prepare students for future careers.

Veronica Bond

Timothy Allen
Pamela Clark
Bill Schueneman

David Baker
Christopher Curtis
Michael Spitz

Edward Andres
Thomas Bennett
Marcie Carter
Susan Harvey
Wendy Ramirez
Kirk Wolf

Lindsey Bourassa
Toni Clegg
Emily Clement
Matthew Eyre
Dawn Fairchild
Ryan Goodrow
Renee Hoppe
Kimberly Klein
Lisa Lawrason
Scott McIntosh
Daisy McQuiston
Dennis Roebuck
Donald Southwell
Joseph Yezak

Brian Aldrich
Justin Bamberg
Meredith Bladecki
Carrie Burdzinski
Kristin Cornelius
Maureen Donegan
Amy French
Jonathan Gittins
Timothy Hendrickson
Joseph Hernandez
Marilyn Lemerand
Diane Lobsiger-Braden
Kathie Marchlewski
Crystal McMorris
Shannon Mehl
Kristopher Nitz
Myung Pinner
Michael Pressler
James Proctor
Nicole Ryan
Ronald Schlaack
Trent Wade
Mary Warner
Christine Yaroch

Brooke Baker
Mark Balawender
Michael Brackrog
Joshua George
Kevin Hobart
Elena Lazzari
Lisa McNeil
Kimberly Mehl
Paul Sander
Daniel Schultz
Lisa Wall

Megan Birdwell
Heather Dillon
Shannon Doerr
Michael Grunwell
Mark Grzegorczyk
Randall Hall
John Harned
Melissa Haswell
Brittany Hodges
Amy Howard
Ryan Hull
Wendy Kienitz
Karry Kiste-Toner
Ashlee Lauzon
Danielle Linton
Dana MacDonald
Tara Novak
David Sabuda
Lauren Saj
Laura Schmidt
Deborah Uhlian
Holly Ulrich
Robin Wellhousen
Craig Wilson