Sept. 5, 2008
To: Eddie Hueston and the Facilities Staff
From: Pam Quinn, LeCroy Center
Just sending a HUGE thanks to you, facilities, tech support and purchasing for helping with the generator problem at the LeCroy Center. You stepped up immediately to help us get this problem solving process underway. Our big concern with losing the generator and UPS was with the uncertainty of the possible bad weather Hurricane Gustav might have created. It we have a power failure, eCampus and the rest of the LeCroy Center goes down. Even losing power for a few minutes would cause a major problem with our online servers, and since all our students depend on eCampus, this was critical. This effort was all done with a concern for students which was demonstrated both at DSC and from the unrelenting work at this end. Thanks to you for helping us get this replacement process moving quickly and efficiently.
To: Bob Mims, Math/Science/Health Professions
From: David Edlund, student
I just wanted to take a minute to thank you, for the wonderful time I had while attending your lectures. The way you lecture, really had a significant role throughout my learning experience. I’ve been attending college for the past two years, and so far this has been the greatest class I’ve taken. Not only I learned a lot about geology, the universe, animals, lifeforms, geography, and so on, but I also learned to feel good about myself. What I thought would be another class to drop, became the most affordable to conquer. The way you teach was increasingly making me feel good about myself. Overall I had a feeling of “Yes, I CAN do it.” The option you gave us to get some extra points by using cue cards, was so simple to do, yet, very helpful. The mini-quizes, were very helpful as well. And you really gave us all the notes for the tests. It was up to us to get a good grade. You handed to us all the tools to get a good grade, while at the same time learning a lot. We just needed to do our part. You never tricked us – I really liked that about your class. Everything was clear and fair. I also enjoyed the PowerPoint presentations. You could even teach art! It was fun, really fun. And the jokes were great, too!
Thank you for all the time, intention, effort, and care that you put behind every lecture. I am sure that I am just one among hundreds of students benefiting from your great lectures. Thank you, Dr. Mims. I had a wonderful experience!
To: Peggy Little, WLCC
From: Charles Huff, former student
This is Charles Huff, a student of yours from about two years ago. You may remember me as one of the DTS students who bumbled through your course, barely making sense of most things. At any rate, some of what you taught got through my thick skull, because I just received word today that I high-passed the University of Chicago German competency test for the Ph.D. It’s notoriously hard, and some of my colleagues don’t pass it until their third year (it’s my first). I like to give credit where credit is due, so thank you!
I’m happily studying ancient Semitic languages, which I don’t have to try to speak with anyone. My focus is Hebrew and Ugaritic, but I’m also studying Akkadian, Aramaic, and other minor Semitic languages. I don’t escape scot-free, however: I do have to speak Arabic, and I’ll be spending the summer in Jordan trying to achieve that. My German will mostly be reserved for trying to work my way through articles and Akkadian grammars, but I’ve been reading some German poetry lately, and enjoying it. I hope you are well. Danke schön!
To: Ray Canham, Math/Science/Health Professions
From: Angela McCaskill, former student
I am writing to give my highest accolades to a very deserving Professor in the Department of Math and Science. This semester (Spring 2008) I had the opportunity to learn from one of the most effective and interesting instructors I have had in my academic history (a long history which includes a master’s degree). This unique instructor, Ms. Jackie Reynolds, is a true asset to the department and an example for professors everywhere.
Importantly, Ms. Reynolds truly cares about the subject matter. She truly enjoys talking abut bacteria, fungi, worms, bioterrorism, healthcare, and a myriad of related microbial topics. Her enthusiasm in contagious and makes students want to learn. It is easy to remember her lectures and facts presented because she puts a lot of effort into making them applicable, lively and current.
It is obvious that Ms. Reynolds truly cares about the success of her students. Most of us, including my self, are aspiring healthcare workers. She constantly provides us with information that will help us get accepted to healthcare programs, information that helps us pass entrance exams, and interesting news abut various healthcare trends and professions. I truly believe that, had in not been for Ms. Reynolds teaching, I would not have done well on my nursing school entrance exams. I am proud to say that I have since been accepted to two nursing schools!
Finally, Ms. Reynolds is a challenging and fair professor. It is well know among students that Ms. Reynolds has high expectations and she delves deep into the subject matter. Nonetheless, students still want to take her classes because we also know that we will actually learn the material. She is very clear as to her expectations of us ans she sticks to the curriculum and her promise to follow the syllabus, return our grades in a prompt manner, and let us know learning objectives ahead of time. There are neither surprise nor disappointments with Ms. Reynolds.
It is my sincere hope that Ms. Reynolds receives the recognition and appreciation which she so deserves. She has been true asset to my educational experience at Richland College.
To: Gary Smith, Adjunct Faculty
From: Paul Stauffer, student
I hope this letter finds you and yours well here at the end of another semester at Richland College. I am graduating on May 2 with my Associates in Peace Studies and have been accepted to the University of Texas at Dallas, where I plan to continue my undergraduate studies in Sociology.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help on my college path thus far. Your expertise in using the computer as the tool it was intended and more importantly how having the computer skills you shared with me can affect positive change has made a great impact on my life. The way you were always able to compare new concepts and ideas with things we already knew will stay with me forever and it was a teaching style only someone who truly knows what he is teaching can attempt.
I can’t apologize enough for the hassles I fueled in your class, but I simply could not believe what you had to endure as an educator from those disrespectful youth. Once again, thank you for all you have done for me and all you are doing as a professor at Richland.
To: Richland College
From: Dwayne Carter, Business and Information Technology
Lea Ann Munkres from RCHS indicated the video presentations at their Senior Event on May 29 were a real hit with the audience and that RCHS was very pleased. The seniors were excited to receive their copy of the Video Yearbook that was delivered on time for the event.
I want to thank everyone for their special efforts in completing this successful project. Special thanks in particular goes to Joe Vines for his extra effort to keep the project organized and moving ahead and to instructor Robert Flowers for his technical troubleshooting and guidance of the RCHS students in their Mayterm Video class.
To: Anitra Cotton, Patricia Benter, Dianna Kozlowski, Suzy Hogue and Katie Harwood, Information Services
From: Whitney Rosenbalm, Information Services
Thanks to you all for your coordination and team work on the Richland Collegiate High School for Mathematics, Science & Engineering Graduation Party. Dr. Eggleston was very pleased with the program, DVD cover, tickets and photographer — as was I. Your hard work and dedication was brightly shining! Thank you!
To: Suzanne Sarbofsky
From: Fatma Qashmar, student
I miss you so much! I wanted to thank you so much for all you taught me because I took my SAT on Saturday and every single English question was just like the stuff you taught us, and I remembered everything you taught us for the essay. It was a piece of cake, thanks to you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
To: Chief Robert Baker, Captain Alfred Banks, College Police; and Ron Clark, Administration
From: Debbi Richards, Educational Transitions
Just a brief note of thanks for 2 wonderful officers, Jason (Pierce) and Cesar (Sena). I was walking over to Alamito and found an elderly couple (yes there are people older than me) having difficulty with the gentleman’s wheelchair. He had improvised by using PVC pipe for leg supports on his personal wheelchair and they had malfunctioned/broken. I went to the police office and Jason and Cesar brought the RLC wheelchair out, assisted the gentleman from one chair to the other and escorted the couple to their car. If not for them, I do not know how they would have been able to get to their vehicle.
To: Charles Wells, Information Technology
From: Ron Hill, Testing Center
Charles, you are always helpful when it comes to our problems with our labs, but I want to especially thank you for your immediate help when I called you with problems on Friday, Aug. 22. You were given very short notice to respond, but as usual, but you were right there on the spot, helping us out of a jam and allowing us to serve many more students than we could have without those “fixed” computers. Thanks for all you do for us – we do appreciate you.
Letters
Dear Ms. (Sharlee) Jeser-Skaggs,
Thank you so much for volunteering to present to Richardson ISD teachers and librarians. The feedback for the staff development session Preparing the Secondary Student for College was overwhelmingly positive. Several teachers said it was the best session they had ever attended. I
also heard more than one person say that all teachers and curriculum directors need to hear the information that was presented.
I feel confident that the session attendees will be able to transfer what they learned from you into the classroom, providing students with stronger, more meaningful instruction.
With great appreciation,
Julie Briggs
Director of Library Media Services, Richardson ISD
Dear Bonnie Hueston, Jean Carter, and RLC Police
On behalf of the DCCCD Department of Outreach, Recruitment and Community Engagement, I want to congratulate all of us on the success of the 2008 Keepin’ It Real Youth Empowerment Summit.
Jean, thank you so much for taking the leadership of this event at RLC. You and Richland’s staff did a phenomenal job welcoming what must have been over 500 youth to your campus. Please extend our appreciation to the wonderful facilities, maintenance, theater, Richland Collegiate High School and especially security staff who did everything they could to make the day great.
Sharon, thank you so much for giving RLC and the DCCCD the opportunity to host this incredible event. You and your volunteers did a wonderful job! I know the youth and parents that attended were blown away by the program. What a great way to get them empowered and ready to face another school year.
Big thanks to the DORCE staff and particularly Eva de Gutiérrez, David Robinson, Belinda Cuellar, and Mary Norman for all of their tireless work on this event.
Sincerely,
Molly Bewley
DCCCD District Director of Outreach, Recruitment and Community Engagement
Dear Steve (Mittelstet):
Richland College has reaped many richly deserved accolades in the last few years, and now I would like to add one more. Minor though it might be, its impact will ripple through institutions across the country for years to come. So congratulations for hosting probably the mos successful CRD Resource Development Specialist Training… ever!
Our interns’ evaluations of each individual session and the two weeks total speak volumes: their brains are stuffed with useful and practical information, their hearts glow with the pride of their work, and their souls have found a network of like-minded colleagues to support them professionally and personally. This kind of growth does not happen by accident. There is something special at Richland.
I can’t help but think that your mascot, R. Möbius Thunderduck, says it all. There’s a culture at Richland which each of your employees embodies: the incalculable value of the mind-body-spirit in human development. Debbi Richards and David Canine, the coaches for CRD’s “Snowducks” infused that principle into every moment of intern training. Leading by that creed, Debbie and David guided 26 individuals with disparate expectations, needs, and abilities and fused them into a mighty force for the advancement of the community college mission. Across this nation, 26 institutions will feel the effect of this experience immediately.
Debbie and David further evidence the Richland credo by the seamless integration of the members of the team in resource development at your college. Sandy Hawkins and Shellie Heard, integral teachers and models during both weeks, were much appreciated and praised by the interns as well. Theresa Roffino (by default a Thunderduck?), added with her inimitable style her deep and varied expertise.
Than you, Steve, for sharing your staff and your credo with CRD.
Sincerely,
Polly Binns,
Executive Director, CFRE
Dear Dr. (Steve) Mittelstet,
We are pleased to announce that Alpha Alpha Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Richland College received special commendation during the Texas Regional Convention. Your Phi Theta Kappa chapter fulfilled all requirements to the distinction of being named a “5 Star Chapter.” This commendation recognizes your chapter’s successful attainment of goals as presented in the Society’s Five Star Chapter Development Program.
In addition to the recognition received regionally, your chapter and college will also receive international recognition. Your chapter’s achievements will be cited on the Phi Theta Kappa Society website www.ptk.org, and in the Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Progress Report mailed to all college presidents in the summer. Participating chapters are also recognized at the Society’s International Convention.
Your support and the support of your administration and faculty are key to unleashing the potential success of your Phi Theta Kappa members. On behalf of the outstanding chapter members and advisors of the Alpha Alpha Xi Chapter, we express appreciation for efforts given toward providing rewarding educational experience inside and outside the classroom.
Sincerely,
Rod. A Risley
Executive Director of Phi Theta Kappa
