Truck Driving Instructors
Scott Community College
Richard (Dick) Walker, Joe Wilcox, Carl Henderkott, Sam Dusenberry, Larry Lief, Bob Hoover, Irving Schlimmer, Don Petersen, and Ray Wilson. Verl Carter (Individual photo) (Not pictured: Gerald McCarthy and Paul House.)

When you travel the highways, you share the road with semi trailers as long as small houses, weighing up to 40 tons, and going 55 to 65 miles per hour. With these facts in mind, it's natural to hope that every semi driver is a skilled, courteous professional. And luckily, many are; since 1997 more than 800 graduates have taken to the road, owing their pride and professionalism to a group of men who have been recognized as a team by the Chancellor's Award for the first time in EICCD history.

These instructors have earned the respect of not just their students, but of other colleges. A colleague wrote, "The reputation of our Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program has reached beyond our district's boundaries." An instructor from Des Moines Area Community College told her "personally how impressed he was with our college in general and the CDL program in particular."

A colleague involved in the cooperative program with Black Hawk College agrees.  "During our partnership," he wrote, "I have had the pleasure of witnessing what is literally life-changing instruction." The colleague cited "quality of caring" and "extra time and effort to struggling students."

These teaching professionals need not wonder about the impact they've made on students' lives. This colleague wrote, "I know that in nine short weeks, the staff and faculty help students open the door to economic security and walk through with the pride of being a skilled professional driver."

Terry Bilyeu, Marketing Officer/Instructional Designer
District Office / ATEEC

For many of us, writing is both a chore and a struggle, something we hoped to leave behind after that last grammar and composition class.  But for Terry Bilyeu, crafting just the right phrase to tell the story is an enjoyable challenge, and she has elevated that chore to an art form.

As a marketing professional in the district for 16 years, Terry's "gift of words" helped tell EICCD's story in many ways, from feature articles and newspaper ads to brochures and TV spots.  She developed "The Smartest Thing" advertising campaign, featuring outstanding alums talking proudly about their EICCD experiences.  "Terry matched the people and the messages with the media, and created a terrific framework for tooting our horn," writes a colleague.  "She has always been the one who looked for the positive story."

When budget cuts hit the district hard in 2001, Terry was asked to take on additional duties as an instructional designer at the Advanced Technology Environmental Education Center.  ATEEC proved to be a perfect outlet for Terry's creativity, and she was an integral member of the team that created two CD-ROMs for middle school students.  "Not only did she assist in the creation of the modules, Terry also took many of the pictures and worked with local teachers to integrate the modules into the schools," says a nominator.

Terry retired from EICCD on June 30, but she continues to help tell the community college story as an adjunct instructor and a freelance writer.  Her "sense of play, creative insight and zest for bringing education to all students" continue to inspire her colleagues.

Robert Lipnick, Art Instructor
Clinton & Scott Community Colleges

Just as we admire one-of-a-kind artwork, Clinton Community College employees admire their one-of-a-kind art instructor, Robert Lipnick - a man with passion, enthusiasm and ability for art, as well as a great rapport with students.

In just two years and with a great love of his subject, Rob has created an atmosphere that generates, appreciates and elevates art on campus. He made partnerships to share space and equipment in order to expand art offerings for students.

He hosted trips to Chicago and Milwaukee to tour art museums. A supporter wrote, "Those who attend the trips are thrilled with his organization, his lectures during the trips and his willingness to answer their many questions. He has developed many fans in our area!"

Rob's other involvements include a high school art day on campus in which local students visit CCC to work on projects, display their work and receive feedback; and a grant project that resulted in one of the longest landscape paintings in Iowa. He was also accepted as a member of the Earthwatch expedition to Spain this past summer.         

Rob's talent is evident, but what his colleagues appreciate most, according to one, is "the ability to dream about a potential project and see it through fruition. In all that he does, he is passionate about art and eager to share that passion with those of us lucky enough to know him."  

Nancy Luikart, Assistant Dean for Library Services
Muscatine Community College

Supporters alliterate heavily when describing Nancy Luikart, MCC's library director. She is "a dynamic, delightful and dedicated director," one wrote. She "eats, breathes and lives CQI and customer service."

According to one supporter, Nancy exemplifies the principles of the Chancellor's Award as "one who extends themselves beyond their job to improve the lives of students in some way."  

Nancy has enthusiasm for learning and "consistently goes out of her way to help students and faculty find the information they need," according to a colleague. "Nancy is recognized within MCC and by the EICCD librarians for her knowledge of technology, especially as it pertains to library-related services."

Nancy's supporters agree that she is driven by a desire to help our students leave as lifetime learners. To accomplish this, she steps up to the plate readily.

She is an adjunct faculty member and serves on the team for the Chancellor's Initiative on Technology. She is an active member of a national library association and serves as vice president/president-elect of QuadLINC's committee of the whole. She also chairs a QuadLINC committee.

A supporter from the Prairie Area Library system, who cites Nancy's work as one of five QuadLINC representatives on a system-wide committee, wrote, "I have
been impressed with her attitude, initiative, dependability and many other positive attributes."

In short, "Nancy does whatever it takes?" according to another supporter. "She comes early, stays late and constantly seeks to improve services in
the library." 

Erin Snyder, Assistant Director for Enrollment Management
District Office

Communication with EICCD's thousands of current and potential students is a monumental task, but to Communications Center Manager Erin Snyder, it's all in a day's work.

Erin's abilities keep the Center humming with daily activities, but Erin is also willing to take on new projects.  One example is her involvement in streamlining the district student advising process.  Erin's participation, according to a colleague, "?resulted in positive changes for our students."

The implementation of the Datatel system was a huge challenge, but Erin worked to conform its communications management component to meet the needs of students. "She takes initiative and responsibility," wrote a supporter.

Outside of the District, Erin works just as hard. When her husband, Trevor, shipped out to Iraq, Erin sensed the anxiety of the families of the 106th Iowa National Guard as the unit gathered to depart. She decided to help. According to a nomination, Erin "single-handedly developed the 106th Aviation Family Support Group into one of the best - if not the best such unit in the entire state of Iowa."

In November 2002, when two of the 106th's crew members were killed and two injured, Erin "rushed to the aid of the families of the victims. Her life was literally turned upside down." In June of 2004, she received the Department of the Army Commander's Award for Public Service.

This quote from a colleague sums it up: "Words cannot adequately express Erin's hard work, energy and motivation? You will never hear her say 'that's not my job.'"    

Deb Van Sant, Evening/Weekend Coordinator
Clinton Community College

Deb VanSant has been described as a "dynamo," a spark that generates passion for the fine arts, motivates students and leads even leaders into meeting their goals. She has been described as "pivotal" to CCC's mission.

Say "Festival of Fine Arts" at CCC and Deb's name will come up. Her leadership in chairing the fine arts committee has resulted in a renewal of art and drama
on campus.  However, Deb doesn't just hand off ideas. She's willing to roll up her sleeves and dig for props, distribute flyers, drive a couple of hours to rent a spotlight and take tickets.

She also helped organize a high school arts festival. "She is a most impressive leader who possesses the ability to keep 100 high school students organized, happy and engaged," wrote a colleague.

When Deb was a student, a faculty member wrote that she encouraged and ?mothered? the other students. "She was as interested as I was that they all learn."
As a member of the Clinton Chamber's Leadership Institute, Deb quickly became a leader. The institute's director wrote, "Her dedication?never waned! You could tell that she was already a leader within her own right."

As the evening/weekend coordinator at CCC, Deb is the face of CCC. Her friendly "take-charge approach" is often just what is needed to solve a crisis or help a student or faculty member. One colleague wrote, "Debi VanSant is one of the hardest-working staff members in the district."