Outstanding faculty and staff were recognized at Southwestern College.  Six awards were presented Friday, April 23, for outstanding service to the college, and 38 employees were honored for years of service.

Presented were the Fassnacht Outstanding Administrator/Staff (Campus) Award to Kaleigh Richardson, assistant director of residence life; the Fassnacht Outstanding Administrator/Staff Award (Professional Studies) to Jessica DeVader, marketing content and event coordinator; and the Fassnacht Outstanding Faculty Award to Sheryl Erickson, associate professor of education.

Floyd and Ruth Fassnacht established the Outstanding Faculty and Outstanding Staff awards with an endowment gift in 1988. Floyd graduated from Southwestern College in 1929 with a degree in chemistry. Floyd began working for Phillips Petroleum in 1940 as a lab chemist. In 1948 he became chief chemist in charge of all plant products, and assisted in the development of aviation fuel for World War II. He retired from the company in 1973 as assistant superintendent of Phillips Kansas City Refinery. Floyd and Ruth were significant donors to the college during their lifetimes, also providing a major gift for construction of the Beech Science Center, naming the Fassnacht Research Laboratory. Floyd received the Southwestern College Alumni Recognition Award in 1997.

Additionally, the United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award was presented to Jayna Bertholf, assistant professor of accounting and finance.

Anjaih Clemons-Williams, director of campus life at Southwestern College, presented the SGA faculty citation during the ceremony. The faculty citation went to Melinda Current, clinical education coordinator and professor of health and wellness promotion.

Awards for years of service were also presented for:

• 30 years: Brenda Hicks, Martin Rude, Cheryl Rude, Kathleen Mignone
• 25 years: Lisa Lowery
• 15 years: Rodney Baker, Jeff Gile, Edward Loeb III, Nili Luo, Stacy Sparks
• 10 years: Lisa Buffum, Sheryl Erickson, Zak Larson, Jim McEwen, Tamara McEwen, Keith McLaughlin, Alexis Miers, Pam Olney, B.J. Wilson, Marvin Wilson, Terah York
• 5 years: Jayna Bertholf, Jennifer Biddle, Becky Burch, Brittany Donals, Doreen Fast, Kevin Frady, Kathryn Gomez, Sharon Krusemark, Wendy Moehler-Sieb, Nathan Morrison, Jacob Negley, Jordan Pond, Kaydee Riggs-Johnson, Connor Seaba, Jonathan Snell, Elizabeth Thummel, and Melissa VanSickle