MDEC invites you to submit recommendations for an EDUCATOR of  the YEAR and/or for STUDENT of the YEAR.  One individual in each category will be honored at this year’s MDEC Spring Conference.

The nomination process is easy and, based on the reactions of past awardees, well worth the time. imply submit completed MDEC Educator of the Year Award nomination form and/or MDEC Student of the Year nomination form and at least 1 letter of recommendation per nominee to the MDEC Awards Committee by March 15. If you would like to see sample recommendation letters, please click here Sample Award Letters.

E-mail submission of recommendation letters is also acceptable.

Please fax, e-mail a scanned copy, or mail a hard copy of the nomination form with a signature to:

Karel Asbury, Director
The Learning Place
Kellogg Community College
450 North Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49017

Phone (269) 965-3931, ext. 2651

Fax (269) 966-4087

For e-mail submissions, be sure to type MDEC AWARD NOMINATION in the subject line. Send the e-mail to asburyk@kellogg.edu

SAMPLE LETTER ONE

 January 16, 2010

 To whom it may concern,

 It is my pleasure to write this letter of endorsement on behalf of Student Nominee.  I have had the good fortune of working with Student since his arrival at Community College in Fall 2005.  In that time I have been consistently impressed by his positive attitude, energy and his commitment to College.

 It is my understanding that the Outstanding Developmental Student Award is given to those students who have successfully completed developmental education classes to begin their collegiate career and who have balanced their classroom education with co-curricular and extra-curricular involvement.  Student maintains a 3.4 grade point average and has been one of College’s most active participants within our Student Life program.  Last year, Student was invited to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa after posting a high enough G.P.A. to meet group requirements.  Soon after initiation, he became an officer for the organization.

 In his first semester at College, he began attending Student Parliament meetings (our student government) and by January 2005, he was our Parliament’s Vice President.  A year later, he is beginning his first term as our newly elected student body president and he is one of the chartering members of our newly re-organized Speech and Forensics team.

 Student is willing to tackle new opportunities and challenges that come his way and he does so with great enthusiasm.  He is a devoted student leader who exemplifies College’s mission and vision through his actions.  I believe Student actions and commitment as a student make him a compelling choice as this year’s Outstanding Developmental Student.

Thank you for considering this letter.  Please do not hesitate to contact me at 517-555-8628 should you have questions regarding Student.

Sincerely,

College Administrator

Assistant Dean of Student Life

Name of College

SAMPLE LETTER TWO

12 January 2010

MDEC Award Committee members:

I am happy to recommend Student Nominee for the Michigan Developmental Education Consortium’s Outstanding Student of the Year award. In the time I have known Student he has proven to be a dedicated and reliable student and person. Not only does he dedicate himself to being a successful student, but he works diligently to serve others in a variety of capacities. Student is a real presence on our campus. Many know him for his active work in the Student Parliament, where he currently serves as President. He also holds an officer position in the student honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, and he competes as a member of the college’s forensics team.

Along with his activity in Community College’s student life, Student finds time

to serve his college and community through a variety of volunteer endeavors. I first got to know Student personally when he attended Student Service Leadership Camp in the Fall with a group of students I advised. He was recommended as an attendee by the faculty and staff that work with him regularly. Following camp, he and a group of students helped to organize the college’s first Project Recycle, which successfully led the entire student body in a campus-wide recycling project.

Student also sits on the College area recycling board and continues to work to bring recycling to College and the community on a greater scale. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus in City, and he continues to volunteer at his former high school on fundraising projects.

 Student has told me that he volunteers because he likes to serve his community, but also because he wants to change the stereotypes about his age group. By acting as a role model for service to his peers, Student is motivating more students to volunteer and demonstrate that college students are a valuable resource for making a difference.

It is my pleasure to support the nomination of Student Nominee for the Outstanding Student of the Year award. He is a highly deserving candidate.

Sincerely,

Administrator

AmeriCorps*VISTA for Service Learning

Community College