The 41st Annual Clinton Community College Alumni Association Outstanding Awards were presented on April 25th. Since 1981, the CCC Alumni Association has been recognizing outstanding contributions to Clinton Community College. The CCC Student Senate also announced three awards at the annual event.
CCC President Dr. Brian Kelly welcomed students, staff, faculty and honorees. CCC Alumni Association representative Jenny Green congratulated the 2022 CCC graduates and recognized past recipients of the Outstanding Awards. Student Senate President Shania Mussmann and Student Senate Secretary Amanda Ganzer awarded three awards:
Club of the Year – This award goes to a student club or organization who fulfils its mission to the fullest and creates productive involvements for the Clinton Campus by performing various social and educational activities that result in outstanding student engagement and leadership. The Gaming Guild has had continuous student participation and has been active in engaging students even during COVID. The students in this club are welcoming and encourage new students to join. Congratulations to Mat Endress and the CCC Gaming Guild.
Above and Beyond Student Award – This award is for a current student that goes above and beyond to participate, engage, and contribute at Clinton Community College. This student contributes in their classes, with their instructors, classmates, and CCC. They shows effort, creativity, innovation and overall helpfulness in their classes, with fellow students, staff, and faculty and has positively impacted the CCC community. Phi Theta Kappa officers MacKenzie Jackley, Payton Cernak, Dasana Moore, & Shania Mussmann were nominated by PKT advisors Gina Bielski, Heather Evans, and Shirley Turnis. These 4 students have gone above and beyond in many ways over the last year contributing to the completion of the award winning Honors in Action Project, completion of the PTK College Project, and helped the chapter secure another year of being 5 STAR status. They are all CCC Student Leaders, and are a pleasure to work with. Congratulations to the Phi Theta Kappa officers.
Friend of Student Senate – Student Senate wanted to recognize a campus department, staff, or faculty for their commitment of hard work to students and the campus. This award is given to those who help students every single day. The recipients are not only a friend to Student Senate, but to all of the CCC campus. The custodians help keep our campus beautiful and without their efforts, our campus would not be what it is today. We truly appreciate your commitment and dedication, and thank you for all you do. Congratulations to Mary Dierksen, Jody Feller, Ayna Garedew, and Marion Short.
The 2022 CCC Alumni Association Outstanding Awards were presented to:
Outstanding Business Associate – Ascentra Credit Union Foundation – In 2018, Ascentra Credit Union Foundation funded a grant for the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges Foundations, written by Ellen Bluth, Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development. The grant for Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Community College students provides for emergency expenses the students may not have the resources to fund. These include insurance, repairs, tuition, textbook, and other fees. During the pandemic, students were forced to use the internet and some needed the deposit for the service. Others have had car repairs or food insecurity, and the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation grants were the financial assistance for CCC students. When the original funds had been nearly exhausted, Ascentra Credit Union Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Naeve reached out to share that additional grant dollars would be available to assist more students. Ascentra Credit Union Foundation has demonstrated outstanding consideration for Clinton Community College students.
Outstanding Friend of the College – Bill Homrighausen – The nomination for Bill Homrighausen said it best, “Everyone knows and loves Bill.” The nominator also commented that Bill gives and gives and gives. In 1988, Bill and wife Shirley started a scholarship for DeWitt Central High School graduates attending Clinton Community College. For 34 years he has funded these scholarships, plus added scholarships for students enrolled in Career & Technical Education, Nursing and Humanities. Bill has continued the interest in CCC students he and Shirley have had for decades. Bill funded framing for student artwork that has hung at the Figge Museum, and he is a funder of the innovative ClintonStarter program. Bill is a friend to all and a true friend to CCC.
Outstanding Alumnus – Roger Hill, Class of 1967 – Roger Hill has been an advocate of Clinton Community College since his days as a student 55 years ago, graduating in 1967. Roger encourages young people and non-traditional people to enroll in CCC programs to enhance their careers and as life-long learners. Roger has welcomed the new CCC president to the community attending programs and events to support Dr. Brian Kelly and college initiatives. He guides donors to the foundation and is a resource for grant opportunities. He and wife Dr. Pam Hill are generous and innovative in their funding of the new ClintonStarter program and with a Nursing Scholarship. Roger is truly an outstanding alumnus of Clinton Community College.
Outstanding Staff/ Faculty Member – Shawn Hamerlinck – You will find Shawn Hamerlinck proudly walking around campus ‘banging the drum’ to all announcing how great CCC students are, getting them excited about all the opportunities that are available to them on and off campus, and coming up with fresh ideas for the college community to get involved. Shawn is an energetic, highly motivated, passionate instructor. During the pandemic he was quick to adapt to the new modalities and was also cognizant of the challenges this would mean for some of our students. He was instrumental in making this transition as seamless as possible for them whether it be technology issues, managing classes off site, and total chaos of life. He continuously brings innovative ideas to get students involved. Shawn promotes campus activities and encourages students to attend then. He is always involved in the Taste of CCC Cultures, Constitution Day, and Veteran’s Day just to name a few. He stresses to students the importance of being your best and looking your best. Shawn Hamerlinck is well deserving of the 2022 Outstanding Staff/Faculty Award.
Outstanding Volunteer – Margo Hansen – The nomination said it well, “As an employee since 2014, Margo’s contributions to Clinton Community College have been priceless. She retired April 1 as Director of the Bickelhaupt Arboretum, a position she had held prior to the gift to the college from the Bickelhaupt family. During her time as Arb Director, Margo offered educational programs to lifelong learners of all ages, gave hundreds of tours to various groups large and small, propagated thousands of plants, and has led dozens of workshops with a host of topics. For years, anyone who has a question about plants calls Margo. And Margo responds. Margo is knowledgeable and funny. As of April 1, Margo has continued as a hard working volunteer, continuing to do the programs, tours, plants, and workshops. Margo volunteered to bring plants to students, answers question, and Margo is a fun volunteer, the best kind.
Outstanding Graduate – Class of 2022 – It was August of 2019 when the Class of 2022 started their educational journey at CCC. Who would have predicted that within months a pandemic would sweep across the world, forcing education and every other institution to learn new ways to function. The Class of 2022 has been hardworking, dedicated, resilient, and very successful despite the challenges faced with COVID. They learned from home and in cars, on tablets and phones, online and hybrid. In spite of it all, the Class of 2022 are graduating from Clinton Community College. Congratulations to a very industrious group of students, the graduating class of 2022.
The CCC Outstanding Awards are the first of many celebrations as the college prepares for the 75th graduation on May 6. CCC President Dr. Brian Kelly commented, “We are fortunate to be part of a college and community that cares deeply about student success. Our Alumni Association Outstanding Awards give us the opportunity to highlight some of these essential partnerships and contributions.”
Student Engagement and Leadership Manager Lindsey Coulson works with the Student Senate and shared these comments, “This event was an exciting opportunity to bring together students, staff, faculty and community members in celebration of the outstanding work occurring at CCC. It was wonderful to recognize a diversity of individuals and celebrate their contributions to campus. Congratulations everyone!”
The CCC Alumni Association has been serving Clinton Community College Alumni Association since 1981. The objectives of the Clinton Community College Alumni Association are:
- To assist Clinton Community College in its efforts of increasing benefits to students enrolled;
- To foster a spirit of loyalty to Clinton Community College; and
- To coordinate activities of alumni furthering the welfare of both Clinton Community College and its alumni.
The CCC Alumni Association awards 4 annual scholarships to CCC students including the Connie Seifert Memorial Honor Scholarship. To learn more about the CCC Alumni Association, contact Ann Eisenman at 563-244-7040 or aeisenman@eicc.edu.
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Photo: Back Row: Mary Dierksen, Jody Feller, Ayna Garedew, Marion Short, Mat Endress, Dr. Brian Kelly, Matthew Hardigan, Shania Mussmann, Amanda Ganzer – Front Row: Jennifer Naeve, Margo Hansen, Bill Homrighausen, Shawn Hamerlinck, Roger Hill
