April 30, 2008
For Immediate Release

RCCC Announces its 2008
Excellence in Teaching Award Winners

           SALISBURY, N.C. -- Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is honoring nine faculty members with 2008 Excellence in Teaching Awards.

           Cathy Cook, an English and communications instructor, has received the Outstanding Excellence in Teaching Award. She has taught at RCCC for almost four years and has more than 17 years of teaching experience. She holds a bachelor's degree from Pfeiffer University, a master's degree from Duke University, and a doctor of ministry degree from Drew University. She recently completed work on a master's degree in communication studies at UNC Charlotte. Last year, she received the Mary E. Jarrard Award for a graduate research paper she presented at Carolinas Communication Association annual convention.
Cook also is RCCC's nominee for the 2008 North Carolina Community College System - R.J. Reynolds Excellence in Teaching Award.

           Three faculty members received Excellence in Teaching Awards with special distinction. They are:

• Brandon Hoffner, welding technology - for support to the mission of the college;
• Kathy Knight, networking technology - for use of technology in instruction; and
• Sherylle Smith, history - for active learning practices.

           The remaining RCCC Excellence in Teaching Award winners are:

• Sandy Daniel, office systems technology;
• Leanne Dixon, mathematics;
• Noah Henley, biology/life sciences;
• Amelia Likin, reading; and
• Robin Satterwhite, history and the humanities.

           "RCCC has a proud tradition of hiring highly qualified and dedicated faculty throughout all of its academic programs," said Tim Foley, academic vice president. "The nine faculty members selected for this year's Excellence in Teaching Awards are representative of this proud tradition. All of them, and many others, constantly go above and beyond the call of duty in providing top quality instruction to the students at RCCC. I am proud of them all."

           Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus Counties. RCCC offers approximately 40 programs of study in business, health and human services and engineering technologies at multiple campus locations. RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an enrollment of approximately 20,000 adult students. RCCC programs include an associate degree in arts and sciences, an associate degree in applied science, and diploma and certificate programs focusing on workforce training, continuing education and basic skills education.

           In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus, under construction in Kannapolis, N.C.

           For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.