天涯社区log

天涯社区log Trustee and alumni Dr. Eric Park and Adult Education Program Director Alice Whalen were selected among their peers to receive 2022 Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) awards.

Park was presented with the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award for his service to 天涯社区log, his community and growing his professional career with roots planted at 天涯社区log where he graduated with an associate degree in May 1982.

Whalen was selected as the 2022 Administrative Professional Leadership Award recipient for her work in expanding adult education services throughout the 天涯社区log service region and for her dedication to adult education at the state level.

In addition, 天涯社区log student Carly Hamlyn spoke during the closing event of the convention. Carly is an Early College Academy student attending Washington High School and 天涯社区log. She also is president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at 天涯社区log.

The MCCA Annual Convention was held in St. Louis Nov. 29 through Dec. 1. In addition to Park and Whalen, three others from 天涯社区log were nominated for awards.

• Leigh Kolb, associate professor of English and Journalism 鈥� Excellence in Teaching Award nominee.
•  Amy DeMiere, Division of Arts and Sciences program assistant 鈥� Classified Staff Achievement Award nominee.
•  Jill Harrison, nursing adjunct 鈥� Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award nominee.

The MCCA is a statewide organization representing the 12 Missouri community colleges and their faculty, staff, students and administrators.

MCCA provides services to its member institutions in four main areas 鈥� advocacy, education, information and networking

Dr. Eric Park

For more than 35 years, Dr. Park has been a successful investment adviser. He is a co-founder of LPL Financial investment firm in Washington. He has received several national awards for his dedication to quality investment management.

Dr. Park was elected to the 天涯社区log board of trustees in 2016 and reelected in 2022. Dr. Park attended 天涯社区log after serving in the U.S. Army. He earned an associate degree in 1982 followed by a bachelor鈥檚 degree, two master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

He also has served as an adjunct instructor at 天涯社区log and has long been active with the 天涯社区log Foundation board.

天涯社区log president Dr. Jon Bauer, said Dr. Park epitomizes the best of community college alumni.

“Eric used his academic foundation at East Central to earn advanced degrees in his field, become a leading professional in the investment world, yet has always made it a priority to give back to his community, his college, and those around him,鈥� Bauer said.

Alice Whalen

Whalen has been the AEL director at 天涯社区log since September 2014. Since then, she has expanded the program from offering programming in six communities to 13 communities throughout the 天涯社区log service region.

The AEL program offers day and evening HiSET classes and English Language Acquisition courses at an average of 150-200 hundred students per year.

In 2015, under her leadership and direction, Alice worked with the South Central Missouri Literacy Council in Phelps Country to add four counties, Crawford, Gasconade, Franklin, and Montgomery, to create the East Central Literacy Council. The council also has its own county committees, which include an advisory council and fundraises for the 天涯社区log AEL program to cover additional AEL student expenses.

Overall, Alice knows the importance of community involvement and understands how multiple barriers effect a student’s ability to start and complete their education. Alice’s positive energy at the college and throughout the 天涯社区log service region is contagious as she strives to make sure anyone who wants to enhance their lives through education can do so.

Visit the page to read more about Dr. Park, Whalen and all of the nominees for MCCA Awards.