ASG honors three ‘Unsung Heroes’

Roberts helps high school students connect to Mt. Hood

Tifini Roberts, College Now coordinator and public speaking instructor, goes above and beyond facilitating relationships between high school students and faculty members at both high schools and MHCC.

She has served Mt. Hood for five years. “I work with district high schools. I help local students take higher-level college courses, earning credit at MHCC,” said Roberts. “The best part about this is simply helping students reach their educational goals.”

Managing the College Now program requires constant communication between Roberts, students and faculty. “Mainly, I send out material and information. I answer calls and questions because the students (high school) are new to the College Now program.”

Roberts, humbly said she didn’t know why she earned the “Unsung Hero” nomination. “I was stunned and shocked, but definitely honored,” she said.

Not only does Roberts contribute her time toward high school students, but she also makes an impact as an instructor in her public speaking course. “Class is about the students. It’s my responsibility to get the students engaged,” she said. “We work together and create a community in the classroom.” She said this helps students feel more comfortable and supportive of one another. The class does many group projects, as well.

“All in all, this support system really encourages students, especially since students are expected to speak in front of the class,” Roberts said.

Emma Bird, director of the Student Organization Council, nominated Roberts because she takes the time to know all the students and their names, she wrote.

-Emily Wintringham

 

Placing communication with fun

For Jennifer Ethridge, part-time speech instructor newly awarded one of ASG’s “Unsung Heros,” creating a fun environment in her classes is key.

“You can learn in a fun environment. You don’t have to make it torture. I want that excitement, that enthusiasm, that passion,” she said.

This term, she is teaching Interpersonal Communication, a course she developed 15 years ago and has taught every term since.

“I like teaching everything, but interpersonal, that’s my baby,” she said. She teaches most other speech classes, except argumentation and forensics (debate).

“I love what I do. I’m extremely passionate. You have to believe in what you do or it’s not going to work,” she said.

Ethridge  went through many life changes this past summer, including the death of her eldest son and experiencing  an “empty nest” as youngest son went off to college.

“My classes saved me on that one,” she said of the former. “Even though I was grieving at the time, it was really helpful for me to get back in the classroom.”

Learning from her own life experience, she takes the focus away from theories and scantrons and urges her students “to look at themselves, look at their self esteem and self worth,” she said.

She emphasizes empathy in her course this term, saying, “I think society needs more empathetic listeners. “I don’t feel my role is just to throw a bunch of information at them,” she said. “My philosophy as a teacher is that I have a 50 percent responsibility to help my students be successful.”

While instilling the value of communication in her students, she makes sure to do it with a sense of humor.  “If my class doesn’t have a sense of humor, they’re going to be very unhappy,” she said.

Ethridge has been a part of MHCC since she was a student here in 1981. She began as an academic adviser in 1987.

Although she has only taught part-time for the last 16 years, her goal is to teach full-time for MHCC. “I really believe in Mt. Hood,” she said.

– Katelyn Hilsenbeck

 

Aiming to excite, support, help students succeed

Melissa Gonzales McNeal, 10-year anatomy and physiology instructor, was pleased to be chosen as one of ASG’s “Unsung Heroes” this term.

McNeal began teaching at Mt. Hood in 2004. She holds a degree in medical and molecular genetics and is an instructor for classes such as medical genetics, anatomy and physiology. Some of the courses are a yearlong program, many times including the same students in sequential terms. In the past, she has taught microbiology and “more genetics courses” at Portland Community College and Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU).

Her favorite part of her job is interacting with students, she said. When she sees students passionate and dedicated, that is the reason she goes to work every day.

“They’re an amazing group of students. And they work hard, they ask questions, they’re motivated, and they’re so much fun,” she said. “And that’s why I love what I’m doing.”

McNeal was nominated for the “Unsung” award by one of her students.

“For me, it means that maybe I’m being successful in what I (hope for),” McNeal said, smiling as she explained what winning this award symbolized.

“I mean, predominantly yes, I want to talk about my topics and I want to get the information” across, she said. “But even more so, I want to get students excited and make them feel supported and make them feel like the college and education is fun, and a place that they want to be in. A place (where) they can continue to grow and maybe be lifelong learners.”

Outside of her classes, McNeal spends much of her time in her office, where she is available to help students. As she was leaving her office for a photograph, one student urged her not to leave because he had questions, and she promised she would return shortly. Such high regard from her students is an example both of her commitment and her students’ respect.

The award came as a surprise to McNeal, who is still unsure of what it entails but is certain she will cry at the award ceremony today, she said.

“It means a lot because it came from the students, and so that is the best — the best award ever.”

– Madeline Boyce