Western Nevada College news & notes

Students honored for Spirit of Community

Western Nevada College students Rachael and John-Henry Lambin from Gardnerville have earned national recognition from the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Rachael also was chosen as one of 250 finalists in the 2008-2009 Coca-Cola Scholars Program.

Rachael, 19, is a member of the Douglas County 4-H in Minden and has taken classes for two years at WNC.

She created and leads "Visionary Hands," a program that uses drawing, painting, sculpting and public speaking to bring people together and promote community service. Her classes also serve to motivate students to volunteer, raise funds, and serve others locally and internationally.

Rachael and her brother also have been recognized in the past for their efforts to build three school buildings in one of Nairobi, Kenya's worst slums. The pair raised money to build and equip the schools, and members of the Lambin family traveled to Kenya to see their work in person.

John-Henry, 16, is also a 4-H member who created "Safe Hands," a program designed to help educate youth about firearm safety.

College honors faculty and staff

English professors Chad McCully and Dr. Ursula Carlson have been chosen academic faculty members of the year.

Professor McCully piloted a new version of an online teaching program. He is recognized for his innovative teaching methods and is active on college committees.

Dr. Carlson is known as a gifted teacher who also works tirelessly outside of the classroom, including several years as co-adviser for Phi Theta Kappa student honor society. She is a judge for Carson High's writing contest and serves on the board for the Community Counseling Center. She also contributes columns to the Nevada Appeal.

Senior graphic designer Michelle Peltier and Lupe Ramirez, executive assistant to the dean of student services, received top classified employee honors. College webmaster Kevin Murphy and financial assistance coordinator Laura Whitelaw have been honored as administrators of the year.

Each college division has also honored an outstanding part-time faculty member. They are: Vance Hughey, business; Kevin Burns, communication and fine arts; Penny Nicely, science, math and engineering; Tom Kubistant, social science, education, humanities and public service; and Michael Becker, technology.

Earth Day a success

Both the passion and the means to tread more lightly upon the Earth were presented at the 39th anniversary of Earth Day. A wide range of filmmaking was on display at WNC's first "Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival."

Everything from animated shorts to real life adventures and experiences were presented, all designed to entertain and to motivate.

Earth Day displays included environmental groups and ways to volunteer, and a "wind spire," a vertical axis turbine that can be installed in a backyard and used to power a home. Hybrid and electric cars were shown on Rotary Plaza.

WNC also is continuing its classes by the Specialty Crop Institute on various crops that use a fraction of the amount of water used for the area's traditional crop, alfalfa.

Students participate in speech contest

WNC students Lauren Tucker and Will Adler presented speeches at the annual Alliance of Racial Minorities speech contest. Each year ARM, with the help of Microsoft, sponsors a speech contest for the colleges and universities in Northern Nevada. This year's topic: "How did the 2008 presidential election affect people's views of diversity, and how might it change the future of U.S. politics and society?"

WNC's Lane Simonian is currently the ARM president and coordinated the speech contest.

Pottery sale benefits ceramics class

Artists Jill Brugler and Grant Kremers will have a small pottery sale on Wednesday at the College Gallery from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds will go into a fund for equipment needed in the ceramics class.