Centre College presents end-of-year awards

Centre College employees were in the spotlight at the college’s annual faculty and staff appreciation dinner and awards ceremony Tuesday.
The Kirk Award for excellence in teaching, endowed by a 1995 gift from Mike and Joanne Kirk Duncan ('71), has been awarded annually since 1996. This year’s recipients are Lee Jefferson, visiting assistant professor of religion; Patrick Kagan-Moore, Charles T. Hazelrigg professor of dramatic arts; Jason Neiser, assistant professor of physics; and Peggy Richey, professor of biology and biochemistry and molecular biology.
The Horky Service Award went to Robert Lamb, HVAC mechanic, and Debbie Stubblefield, custodial leader. Created from a bequest from Lorette and John Horky ('32), the Horky Award recognizes outstanding achievement by facilities services employees and has been given annually since 1990.
Recipients of the Recognition Award, which honors non-physical plant staff, were Sue Kirkpatrick, technology support coordinator; Kathy Miles, director of counseling at Parsons Student Health Center; and Meredith Sizemore, payroll and benefits coordinator.
Four professors were named Centre Scholars: Steve Asmus, Elizabeth Molloy Dowling associate professor of biology and biochemistry and molecular biology; Genny Ballard, assistant professor of Spanish; Allison Connelly, assistant professor of French; Jeff Heath, assistant professor of mathematics; and Marie Petkus, assistant professor of economics. Being named a Centre Scholar is an honor that recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarly work and contributions to the college community. They are rotated among Centre’s fulltime faculty on a biennial basis.
The 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence was awarded to Kerri Howard. The award was created in 1999 to recognize exceptional leadership and accomplishment.
A 2008 Centre graduate, Howard has served for the past two years as Centre's coordinator of community-based learning through the VISTA AmeriCorps Program. She made an immediate and significant impact helping to institutionalize community-based learning across Centre's curriculum, most recently with an after-school program for non-native English-speaking students in local schools.
Retiring faculty and staff also were honored: (Flora) Mae Grubs, custodian; Mike Hamm, Ewing T. Boles professor of history; Dennis Jones, custodian; Judy Naumann, secretary for Division III; Mike Norris, director of communications; and Liz Perkins, Gordon B. Davidson associate professor of history.