Awards & Recognition
Celebrating Excellence at Glen Oaks Community College
At Glen Oaks Community College, excellence is more than a goal. It is a shared commitment.
Each year, we recognize students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners who embody our mission: providing opportunities for academic and lifelong success through excellence in teaching and comprehensive support services.
These awards reflect our core values of collaboration, integrity, innovation, transparency, and a student-centered approach.
Nomination & Recognition Process
Each year, Glen Oaks Community College and the Glen Oaks Community College Foundation invite nominations for individuals who demonstrate excellence, leadership, and meaningful impact.
Nominations typically open in February and remain open through early March. When nominations are open, links to complete and submit award forms will be available on this page. Eligibility requirements and criteria vary by award.
Recipients are honored at the annual Glen Oaks Awards Ceremony, held each spring on campus. This celebration brings together students, employees, alumni, trustees, and community members to recognize those who strengthen our college and advance our mission through service, achievement, and dedication.
E. J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence Award
The E. J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence Award honors exceptional full-time faculty who demonstrate outstanding commitment to student learning.
Established in 1984 through a generous endowment from E. J. Shaheen—an original Glen Oaks board member, college professor, attorney, and business owner—this award recognizes the transformative power of high-quality teaching.
Recipients of this annual award:
- Demonstrate excellence in instruction
- Inspire student engagement and academic achievement
- Contribute meaningfully to curriculum and college growth
- Reflect Glen Oaks’ commitment to student success
The award is presented annually by the Glen Oaks Foundation and represents one of the highest honors for faculty achievement at the college.
E. J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence Award Recipients
| 1985 – Ronald Miazga | 2000 – John Ward | 2020 – Bill Lederman | |
| 1986 – Thomas Soper | 2001 – Larry Haas | 2021 – Kevin Conner | |
| 1987 – David Greenhoe | 2002 – Susan Reardon | 2022 – Susan Louis | |
| 1988 – Daryl Herrman | 2003 – Bill Lederman | 2023 – Lori Hatfield | |
| 1989 – Donald VanZuilen | 2004 – Janell Lederman | 2024 – Michelle McNamara | |
| 1990– Barbara Timby | 2005 – Susan Reardon | 2025 - Sara Main | |
| 1991– Lucy Morgan | 2006 – Kevin Gave | ||
| 1992– Leland Thornton | 2007 – Judy Demink | ||
| 1993– Charles Hayes | 2008 – Jim Martin* | ||
| 1994– Robert Gray | 2009 – Ren Hartung | ||
| 1995– James Martin | 2010 – Chad Worthington | ||
| 1996– Sharon Smith | 2011 – Dr. Lester Keith | ||
| 1997– Thomas Soper | 2012 – Michael Northrup | ||
| 1998– Harvey Gordon | 2013 – Steve Ryno | ||
| 1999– Jeanne Reed | 2014 – Michelle McNamara | ||
| 2015 – Pamela Carrel | |||
| 2016 – William Furr | |||
| 2017 – Sarah Simmons | |||
| 2018 – Cheryl VanderPloeg | |||
| 2019 – Reid Leaverton |
Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes graduates who make a meaningful difference in their professions and communities.
Presented by the Glen Oaks Foundation, this award honors alumni who:
- Demonstrate professional excellence
- Show leadership in their field
- Contribute through community service
- Represent the values of Glen Oaks
These recipients show current students what is possible after graduation. Their achievements reflect the strength of a Glen Oaks education across southern Michigan and northern Indiana.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
| 2002 – Viola Schuler | 2011 – Hope Bailey | 2020 – Larry Wingfield | |
| 2003 – David Locey | 2012 – Bruce Gosling | 2021 – Rod Lopez | |
| 2004 – Charles Frisbie | 2015 – Terry Conklin | 2022 – Jade Klingler | |
| 2005 – Kathy Bingaman | 2016 – Perri Saunders | 2023 – Kelly Bibb | |
| 2006 – Daisy Allabach | 2017 – Marc Zona | 2024 – William Lederman | |
| 2007 – Craig Hartzell | 2018 – Chris Gosling | 2025 - Jakki Bungart-Bibb | |
| 2019 – Didimo Arreola | |||
Up and Coming Distinguished Alumni Award
This award recognizes alumni who graduated within the past 10 years and are already making a strong impact.
Presented by the Glen Oaks Foundation, the Up and Coming Distinguished Alumni Award celebrates early-career professionals who:
- Exhibit professionalism and integrity
- Demonstrate measurable career achievement
- Provide significant service to their communities
- Serve as role models for current students
This award highlights the momentum and promise of recent Glen Oaks graduates.
Up and Coming Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
| 2023 – Collin Dussel | |||
| 2024 – Alan Albarran | |||
| 2025 - Nathan Denton | |||
Fellows Award
The Fellows Award recognizes individuals or organizations that provide extraordinary support to Glen Oaks Community College.
Recipients may be honored for:
- Long-term dedication and commitment to the college
- Significant community-level advocacy and partnership
- Direct and sustained financial support through the Glen Oaks Foundation or Board of Trustees
- Contributions that expand opportunities for students
This award celebrates those who invest in education and help strengthen opportunities for future generations.
Fellows Award Recipients
| 1999 – Robert Mowry | 2000 – Sen. Harry Gast | 2010 – Hope Bailey | 2021 – Aaron Miller |
| 1999 – Eugene Schmidt | 2001 – Rep. Cameron Brown | 2013 – T.J. Reed | 2022 – Raymond and Gretchen Dresser |
| 1999 – Isabel Ward | 2002 – Lyda Nickell | 2015 – David Smith | 2022 – Dale and Phyllis Gray |
| 1999 – Glenn Oxender | 2003 – Frances Frays | 2015 – Ruth Perry | 2022 – James Riley |
| 2004 – Barry Mumby | 2016 – Lucy Zimmerman | 2023 – Patricia Devier | |
| 2005 – Gretchen Dresser | 2016 – Tom Soper | 2024 – Mike Stiles | |
| 2006 – Mary Lou Falkenstein | 2017 – Dr. Dennis McCarthy | 2025 - Nancy Percival | |
| 2006 – Natalie Bellaire | 2018 – David Allen | ||
| 2007 – Taylor and Mary Snow | 2019 – Norman Haas | ||
| 2008 – Jeffrey Middleton | |||
| 2009 – Terry Conklin |
Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
Glen Oaks recognizes that teaching excellence extends beyond full-time faculty.
The Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Award honors adjunct instructors who:
- Demonstrate outstanding teaching performance
- Engage and support students effectively
- Uphold academic standards
- Reflect the value and impact of education
Recipients play a vital role in delivering high-quality instruction and expanding access to education for our community.
Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Award Recipients
| 2015 – Patricia Jesaitis | 2020 – Marlene Livingston | ||
| 2016 – Stewart Nickell | 2021 – Nick Shultz | ||
| 2017 – Michael White | 2022 – Carmen Hochstetler | ||
| 2018 – Carol Weatherford | 2023 – Darci Skrzyniarz | ||
| 2019 – Bethany Chambers | 2024 – Dan Miller | ||
| 2025 - Erin Goff | |||
Outstanding Service Award
The Outstanding Service Award recognizes Glen Oaks employees who exemplify excellence in performance and service.
Honorees demonstrate:
- Accountability and professionalism
- Responsiveness to student and community needs
- Innovation and forward-thinking solutions
- Commitment to diversity, sustainability, and inclusion
This award reflects our belief that student success is supported by dedicated professionals across every department.
Outstanding Service Award Recipients
| 1999 – Thomas Soper | 2015 – Tammy Russell | 2020 – Larry Diekman | |
| 1999 – Cassandra Major | 2016 – Patricia Oswalt | 2021 – Julie Cottin | |
| 2000 – Shayna Howell | 2017 – Kathleen Patrick | 2022 – Tom Miller | |
| 2001 – Ed Chobot | 2018 – Amanda Ludwig | 2023 – Christopher Dao | |
| 2001 – Barbara Thole | 2019 – Judy Fetch | 2024 – Diane Zinsmaster | |
| 2001 – Lucy Zimmerman | 2025 - Christian Monsivaes | ||
| 2002 – Annie Webster | |||
| 2003 – Richard Wedemeyer | |||
Glen Oaks Community College Athletic Hall of Fame
The Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes former student-athletes, coaches, teams, and supporters who have made exceptional contributions to Glen Oaks athletics. This honor celebrates outstanding performance, leadership, sportsmanship, and lasting impact on the Viking community. Inductees represent the tradition of excellence, dedication, and pride that define Glen Oaks both in competition and in the classroom.
Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
| 2015 – Kenneth Schuler | 2020 – C.B Gordon | ||
| 2016 – Amie Burger | 2020 – Joel Mishler | ||
| 2016 – Phyllis Cupp | 2022 – Bruce Berenyi | ||
| 2017 – Erin Strang | 2023 – Tom Horn | ||
| 2017 - Larry Engle | |||
| 2017 – Mike Miller | |||
| 2018 – Terry Conklin | |||
| 2019 – Tom Soper |
President’s Academic Award
The President’s Academic Award honors students who achieve exceptional academic success while contributing meaningfully to the college community.
Recipients:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher
- Are nominated by Glen Oaks faculty
- Demonstrate excellence in coursework and classroom engagement
- Contribute positively to campus life
This award reflects Glen Oaks’ commitment to academic rigor, student achievement, and high standards of excellence.
* posthumously awarded