Tuesday, September 7, 2021
CVTC Instructors Recognized for Excellence
New faculty, outstanding educator and adjunct instructor awards presented
Chippewa Valley Technical College recently honored top instructors with annual excellence awards.
The college presented the Domer New Faculty Teaching Award to Sara Martin, CVTC nursing instructor; the Paul and Karen Kohler Adjunct Instructor Excellence Award to Emily Severson, CVTC certified dental assisting instructor; and two John Frank Outstanding Educator Awards to Brent Christianson, CVTC agronomy management instructor; and Kristina Novek, CVTC science instructor.
John Frank Outstanding Educator Award
Christianson, agronomy management instructor, understands the needs of his students and engages them by offering many opportunities for hands-on learning. That’s why former student Santiago Cabal Martinez said Christianson deserves this award.
“Brent (Christianson’s) … main goal is to make sure students remain engaged in the field every year, and this is why he goes to great lengths to partner with other industry leaders. Thus, students gain the exposure they need to new technologies while establishing relationships with their future employers.”
The award’s goal is to improve education by recognizing quality role models, to increase the value that society places on education, and to enhance the status of, and respect for, the teaching profession.
Christianson said his teaching philosophy is to train every student “for the career that they dream of … and to provide experiential and real-life learning, create a workplace-type environment and share my passion.”
Like Christianson, Novek, science instructor and another John Frank Outstanding Educator Award recipient, thinks outside of the box to provide a top-notch education for her students.
“By making experiences personal for students and giving them ownership over their own learning has proven to be a powerful tool. I want my students to learn not only the content but also that they can make changes in their communities and in their own lives,” she said.
Former student Aleah Anderson said Novek is inspiring to herself and many students.
“I felt continually empowered by Kristina (Novek’s) direction, and I can genuinely say that I would not be in the position that I am today without her guidance,” Anderson said. “Kristina fostered a sense of curiosity in me, and I now look at the world with the intention of finding truth and with a desire to find out why things work the way that they do.”
Paul and Karen Kohler Adjunct Instructor Excellence Award
Severson’s joy and passion shine as a certified dental assisting instructor, said Angela Klatt, a former student of the award recipient.
“As a former student of CVTC, I had the great pleasure of having Emily (Severson) as one of my instructors. All the hands-on experience we received was a great way to get in there and learn the trade. Even if the school’s schedule didn’t allow for us to be in the lab, Emily would come up with a way for us to learn hands-on in the classroom. I couldn’t think of a more deserving person for this award,” said Angela Klatt.
Bridget Myers, another former student, nominated Severson.
“Emily is very dedicated to all her students each semester and takes her time to thoroughly teach the subjects needed for graduation. She teaches a great amount of information in a single semester and has to prepare the students for the workforce in that same semester,” Myers said.
Domer New Faculty Teaching Award
Throughout the past year, Sara Martin, a nursing instructor, has shown leadership to help her department navigate supply issues, access problems with clinical sites, and other challenges related to the pandemic.
The Domer New Faculty Teaching Award recognizes a new instructor who has distinguished themselves during their first two years of teaching. From her first semester, Martin worked hard to create supportive learning environments that challenge students to learn and apply content and skills.
All instructors received a cash token of appreciation and a plaque.
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