News

Distinguished teachers surprised, speechless and quick to share credit
By Stephen Floyd

The 2008 Distinguished Teaching Awards were given this week to a GED instructor, the department chair of machine tool technology and a computer information instructor, each to the cheers of students and staff at Mt. Hood Community College.

While teaching her general education degree students Monday, instructor Sue Byers-Connon was surprised by Interim President Gary Murph and an entourage of well-wishers from the administration and told that her students had nominated her for the award.

An e-mail from the office of the president reported Byers-Connon’s reaction as one of disbelief, stating that she thought there must have been a mistake. But the student who anonymously nominated her said no mistake was made in her being awarded.

“She listens to us whenever we have any kind of problem,” said the student. “She understands us, especially if we didn’t pass our test and then she’ll come to us and have a talk with us privately and ask us what is wrong and if she can help.”

Since the creation of the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1984, Byers-Connon is the only instructor to have been honored twice.

On Tuesday, Murph and his award-giving compatriots were far from done. They gathered in the president’s office and wandered down around the scaffolding by the Industrial Technology Building in the midst of a sudden rainstorm to give the second award to Tim Polly, machine tool instructor.

Wearing a blue jump suit and smelling of ozone, Polly shook hands with Murph and remarked that he was “totally” speechless.

“That’s amazing,” he said before posing with his students for a picture.

The student who nominated Polly said of their teacher: “He engages students the moment they first become interested in the programs. He has a great sense of humor and is a person of unquestionable integrity.”

Wednesday afternoon brought the third pilgrimage from Murph’s office, balloon and flowers in hand. This time they stopped outside computer information system instructor Wayne Machuca’s classroom, and this time the wife and son of the instructor were there to cheer, as well. Many of his students in his class took part in the nomination and one Wayne Delgado was described as a “glowing letter of support” by the office of the president.
“I have been involved with many colleges in my lifetime . . . and I have never met teachers like Dr. Machuca,” wrote Delgado. “I can’t say enough about him; he is the best of the very best.”

All recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award were nominated by a student or staff member who knew the instructor on a personal level. Applications were given to a committee for review in April, then three recommendations were given to Murph for approval. In addition to public recognition, all three will be honored at commencement and receive a $500 check from the MHCC foundation.