Employee Excellence
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Milestone Award Recipients
5 YEARS OF SERVICE
Dr. Amanda Brandt
Nickalou Bhajan
Mathew Burks
Audrey Cheatham
Cynthia Christman
Kevin Frank
Jean-Frantz Gation
Eric Gentner
Dennis Gleason
Dr. Justin Greathouse
Laura Koga
Dropatty Lachman
Keith LeBeau
Mark Lehnowsky
Shelly Meneses
Rita Mulligan
Keisha Pappas
Luis Pelegrin
Wes Redman
Cara Sanderlin
Alesandra Saunders
Cooper Schmitt
Jennifer Sharp
Joseph Silver
Delrose Tobie
Gabrielle Williams
10 YEARS OF SERVICE
Kevin Arms
Jessica Ballard
Catherine Breen
Charles Breen
Ronald Cope
Bill Dillinger
Cassandra Gamble
Salma Kasem
Kristopher King
Peter Napoles
Carolyn Oatis
Dr. Christopher Sargent
Brenda Skiles
Brenda Skoczelas
Doug Starr
Toni Upchurch
Whitley Webb
Tracy Welsh
Milestone Award Recipients
15 YEARS OF SERVICE
Rich Billings
Jennifer Cerione
Steve Clark
Tammy Spencer Leo Taylor
20 YEARS OF SERVICE
Constance Heil
Jeremy Norton
Jason Trantham
30 YEARS OF SERVICE
Thom Kieft
35 YEARS OF SERVICE
John Shea
CARE AWARD
Awards
The Care Award is presented to an employee who exemplifies LSSC’s core value of CARE. This award is designed to recognize and celebrate individuals who embody a profound sense of compassion and empathy, demonstrating an exceptional commitment to fostering a culture of care within the college community. The recipient of this award is someone who goes above and beyond to make a positive impact on the lives of others, particularly our students and their experience.
COMMUNICATION AWARD
The Communicate Award stands as a distinguished recognition presented to an employee who exemplifies Lake-Sumter State College’s core value of COMMUNICATE. This accolade is designed to honor an individual who, through their exceptional communication skills, contributes significantly to creating a positive student experience and fostering effective communication within the college community.
COLLABORATE AWARD
The Collaborate Award is to an employee who embodies LakeSumter State College’s core value of COLLABORATE. This accolade is bestowed upon an individual who places a significant emphasis on working together harmoniously with peers, students, and the community, fostering a culture of collaboration within Lake-Sumter State College.
Awards
CELEBRATE AWARD
The Celebrate Award is presented to an employee who embodies Lake-Sumter State College’s core value of CELEBRATE. This accolade is bestowed upon an individual who not only contributes to the success of the college but actively fosters a positive and supportive learning and workplace culture, creating an environment where achievements are acknowledged and celebrated.
TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Award for Teaching Excellence is a distinguished honor that recognizes outstanding faculty contributions to the art and craft of teaching at Lake-Sumter State College. This award is designed to celebrate faculty members who demonstrate exceptional dedication to teaching-related activities, showcasing significant innovation, creativity, and a commitment to fostering an engaging and enriching learning environment.
DISTINGUISHED PART TIME EMPLOYEE AWARD
The Distinguished Part-Time Employee Award is bestowed upon an exceptional individual who embodies LSSC’s core values of Collaborate, Communicate, Care, and Celebrate. This award is designed to honor the outstanding contributions of part-time employees who consistently go above and beyond in serving the mission of our college. As a part-time employee, the recipient serves as a shining example of dedication, commitment, and passion for the institution’s mission.
Awards
INNOVATION AWARD
The Innovation Award celebrates the trailblazers within our institution, recognizing outstanding contributions made by an individual, team, or department that champions innovation with a data-driven approach. This prestigious recognition is reserved for those who not only prioritize performance improvement but also fearlessly embrace the risks associated with groundbreaking innovation.
RISING STAR AWARDS
The Rising Star Award is a distinction presented to an outstanding employee who, with less than two years in their role at LakeSumter State College, has exhibited exceptional performance and unwavering support of the college’s mission. This accolade is designed to honor an individual’s remarkable contributions, acknowledging their steadfast commitment to excellence and recognizing them as a rising force within the college community.
Academic Affairs
Enrollment & Student Affairs
Facilities Planning & Operations
Employee Excellence
Finance
Institutional Advancement
Technology Innovation
Awards
SPIRIT OF THE LAKEHAWK AWARD
The Spirit of the Lakehawk Award is a prestigious and significant honor presented to an outstanding employee of Lake-Sumter State College who not only embraces but truly exemplifies the institution’s four core values: Collaborate, Communicate, Care, and Celebrate. This award recognizes individuals who drive transformation through their unwavering commitment to the College’s mission and who, through their exceptional performance, go above and beyond in making a profound impact on the student experience and the College as a whole.
PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP AWARD
The President’s Leadership Award holds special significance as it is conferred upon an individual who exemplifies the foundational values of our college community and embraces leadership as a set of behaviors that set them apart. This distinguished recognition acknowledges the recipient’s consistent demonstration of behaviors rooted in the 4 C’s. By emphasizing leadership as a collection of behaviors, this award honors an individual whose everyday actions contribute significantly to the advancement of the College’s mission and exemplify the essence of true leadership.
Thank You!
