CSCC Recognizes Distinguished Honor Award Recipients

Carolina Roman

CSCC Recognizes Distinguished Honor Award Recipients

Holly Vincent
Monday, June 13, 2016 10:25 AM
All, Events, Academics

Patty Weaver
Patty Weaver
Karmon Kingsley
Karmon Kingsley

 

Three individuals were recognized for their dedication and hard work at Cleveland State Community College’s 51st Commencement Ceremony. Carolina Roman was selected as the 2016 Distinguished Graduate. Patty Weaver was selected as the Distinguished Staff Member and Karmon Kingsley was selected as the Distinguished Faculty Member.
The Distinguished Graduate award is given each year to the graduating student who, in the opinion of the college faculty and staff, has contributed the most to the advancement and betterment of the college.
Carolina Roman served as a student worker in the Humanities and Social Science Division for two years. According to her supervisors, she has proven herself to be an exemplary student who was actively engaged in campus life. She is well-respected by all faculty who have come into contact with her. Roman has positively impacted the campus through her work tutoring students in the Language Lab, in using her skill with spreadsheets to help create the assessment documents used by the Early Childhood Program, and in serving as the President of the International Club. Her skill, patience and compassion come shining through on a daily basis. She has accomplished these things while currently maintaining a 3.7 GPA.
Roman’s high level of academic achievement is further evidenced by the fact that she was awarded the departmental awards in both English and Education this year. In addition to her academic activities, she also performed significant work for the college outside the classroom. She agreed to a service-learning opportunity at Taylor Elementary by helping the children plant flowers in the Literacy Garden. She has also performed significant work in order to ensure the college’s Multicultural Fair was an enjoyable and educational experience for all attending.
Other students nominated for this award include Shadia Suarez and Jobanna Jimenez.
The Distinguished Staff award is presented each year to an individual who has performed meritorious service to Cleveland State—above and beyond the expectations of the job. This award is open to any CSCC employee other than those classified as Executive, Administrator or Faculty.
Patty Weaver started teaching as an adjunct instructor for CSCC in 1996 before joining the college full-time in 2006, accepting the position of Director of the Vonore Center. She is currently responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the offsite locations in both Athens and Vonore, overseeing six staff members, two full-time and four part-time faculty members, and 15-20 adjunct instructors. She provides administrative and fiscal leadership for all educational activities, including conferences, training activities, workforce development, credit (day and evening offerings), non-credit courses, and grants/contracts. She is also responsible for recruiting and registering students, in addition to developing effective working relationships with business and industry.
According to her nomination form from a co-worker, “Patty has an impeccable work ethic, a true devotion to education, a stellar reputation, and a compassion for others that results in an extensive network of students, staff, faculty, employers and community members who seek her out for “all things education.”’ Whether she is advising a student, consulting with an adjunct instructor, talking to an industry representative, writing a grant, visiting a high school, networking at a chamber event, leading an advisory council, coordinating an event, or teaching a class....she does it with “style, thoroughness, and professionalism.”
During her time with CSCC, Weaver has served on a number of committees including Staff Senate, Academic Council, Quality Enhancement Assessment Committee, Distance Learning Committee, Service-Learning Advisory Council and was the recipient of Outstanding Service to Students Award in 2010 and the Cougar Pride Award in 2016 . She is also very actively involved in her community serving on many committees and leadership positions on the board of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, the Tellico Reservoir Development Agency, Junior Achievement and the Monroe County Boys and Girls Club.
Other staff members nominated for this award include Alyssa Douglass, Bre LaMountain, Sarah Copeland, Sheila Smith, Serena Young and Andy Foskey.
The Distinguished Faculty Award is given each year to a member of the Cleveland State faculty in recognition of meritorious service to the college and community.
Karmon Kingsley’s history with Cleveland State began immediately after her high school graduation, but it wasn’t until 1997 when she enrolled as a part-time, non-traditional student that she really set her sights on her true career goal—to one day teach at CSCC. Kinglsey served as CSCC Veterans Benefit Clerk while completing her Associate of Science degree in General Studies in 1999 and her Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting in 2000. She later went on to complete her Bachelor’s degree from MTSU in 2009 and most recently, her Master’s in Allied Health from ETSU in 2015.
After graduating from Cleveland State, she gained career field experience through positions at Bradley Memorial Hospital, CVS, Blue Ridge Medical Oncology, Tennessee Christian Academy and Miller-Motte Technical College. She returned home to Cleveland State in 2005 to assume her dream job as Director of the Medical Assisting Program. In the 11 years she has taught at Cleveland State, she has led the Medical Assisting program through tremendous growth. In her first year, she also walked into the director role facing the daunting task of writing the re-accreditation report for the program. Fast forward a decade and the Medical Assisting Program now produces 20 graduates annually. The program continues to grow with 26 graduates anticipated next year. Since 2005, the MA program has produced 117 graduates with all but 9 having passed the CMA (AAMA) exam. She re-formatted the Medical Assisting Student Association to make it a more vital organization incorporated into the actual MA program structure. This group is extremely active and has received the CSCC Outstanding Organization Award twice. The MA Student Association serves the community with the many annual projects including collecting donations for the Ronald McDonald House, canned food items for The Caring Place and hats for cancer patients at Tennessee Oncology Center, and these are just to name a few.
Additionally, Kingsley is heavily involved in professional organizations. She has served at the local and state level of the Tennessee Society of Medical Assistants. She is chair of the continuing education and membership committees. She is also active on the college campus serving for years on the Faculty Senate. She currently serves on the Academic Calendar, International Studies, and Faculty Promotion/Tenure Committees. Kingsley is also personally active in her community, participating in Girl Scouts for 40 years—serving as a participant for 12 of those years and a volunteer for the remaining 28 years. A fellow faculty member wrote on her nomination form, “She tells everyone this is her dream job, and it shows! She is a strong professional and very, very well respected. Cleveland State is incredibly lucky to have her directing the Medical Assisting Program because her program is the GOLD STANDARD in the state!”
Other faculty members nominated for this award include Aaron Bryant, Jana Pankey and Priscilla Simms-Roberson.

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