2021 - Timothy Kaar and Robert Russ receive 2021 Orrin G. Thompson Teaching Excellence Award

Timothy Kaar, MFA, professor of graphic design, and Robert Russ, MA, business unit adjunct faculty, were recently recognized with the 2021 Orrin G. Thompson Teaching Excellence Award from Elgin Community College. Kaar received the full-time faculty award and Russ received the part-time faculty award.

“ECC has the great fortune of having innovative, committed faculty members who are raising the bar for community colleges across the state,” said Peggy Heinrich, vice president of teaching, learning, and student development. “They bring innovation and a deep commitment to student success to the classroom, ensuring students are prepared to meet the challenges of today's workforce.”

The Orrin G. Thompson Teaching Excellence Award recognizes and honors individual faculty members who have made the greatest contribution to the learning environment of ECC, are dedicated to the successes of students, and exemplify and strengthen the college’s shared values of excellence, freedom of inquiry, equity, ethical practices, accountability, respect for diversity and community engagement. Each year, employees, students, and community associates of ECC are invited to nominate outstanding faculty for the award.

A record 24 full- and part-time faculty were nominated for the 2021 award.

“This record number of nominations speaks to the level of work and effort put in by ECC faculty during an extremely challenging year,” added Heinrich.

Kaar and Russ have been nominated for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Outstanding Faculty Member Award, which will be announced in early May.

Associate Professor of English as a Second Language Colleen Stribling won the 2020 Orrin G. Thompson Teaching Excellence Award for full-time faculty and Physics Unit Adjunct Faculty Member Soma Chattopadhyay won the part-time faculty award.