Photo by Erica Beasley

Pictured from left are Dr. Bill Aiken, SCC president; Dana Meredith, department chairman of Industrial Systems Technology and Excellence in Teaching nominee; Dr. Tim Wright, vice president of Academic Affairs.

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Sampson Community College recently recognized six outstanding instructors for their superior service to the institution and for going above and beyond the call of duty. Dana Meredith, Carole Phipps, Shellie Moore, Dale Johnson, Jo Ellen Axthelm and Daphene Lane have all been nominated for the North Carolina Community College System Excellence in Teaching Award.

Meredith represents the Agriculture and Industrial Programs while Phipps instructs in the Arts and Sciences. Moore is an instructor in Business and Public Service, Johnson is a Continuing Education instructor, Axthelm represents Education Programs and Lane educates in the Health Programs.

The recipients of this honor of distinction were selected by a committee comprised of the Division Chairs, Vice President of Academic Affairs and their peers who provided President Dr. Bill Aiken with a formal recommendation for the faculty awards.

While all of the candidates provide superior service to the institution, Dana Meredith, has been chosen to represent SCC at the state level. According to Aiken, the committee did an outstanding job picking this year’s finalists and recipient. “We are very pleased to submit Dana Meredith’s name as the nominee for the Excellence in Teaching Award. Dana came to the college from industry and has become one of SCC’s finest instructors. His industrial experience coupled with his teaching ability has made him a valuable asset. Mr. Meredith’s greatest attribute is his ability to combine real world experiences with the theoretical approach to issues students will face upon employment. Dana possesses outstanding qualities that exist among many of SCC’s faculty members.”

Achieving such a prestigious honor was no easy task for the nominees. According to Tim Wright, Vice President of Academic Affairs, there were strict criteria that had to be met for consideration in the selection process. They were evaluated for their curriculum and course development activities, teaching methodologies, supervisory recommendation and contributions to overall institutional effectiveness. “We have so many hard-working, dedicated professionals that it’s almost impossible to single out anyone,” says Wright. “Still, these six have been chosen by their peers and that’s as high an honor as anyone can receive. They’re all great colleagues, role models, and the overall winner, Dana Meredith, exemplifies those qualities and will be an outstanding representative for SCC at the State level.”

The Excellence in Teaching Award is sponsored by the State Board of Community Colleges and endowed by R.J. Reynolds. It truly is an accomplishment to stand in this elite group, says Wright. “It’s an honor to have such fine faculty on staff at SCC. Their endeavors should be rewarded, because they’re truly a very deserving group that improves educational excellence on a daily basis.”