Grand Rapids Community College bestowed its Excellence in Education Awards at the college’s opening day ceremonies to kick off the 2012-2013 academic year. This year’s awards were presented to education professor Diane Sparks and Secchia Institute for Culinary Education operations manager Mike Kidder.
The award is the college’s highest recognition, and is given annually to one faculty and one staff member for his or her contributions to the college, higher education and the community. Each recipient receives a $1,000 cash award and a matching award goes to the GRCC Foundation in each recipient’s name.
“This award speaks to the quality of the individuals we have working at GRCC, and I am extremely proud of Diane and Mike,” said GRCC president Steven C. Ender. “The nomination process is a stringent one, and the fact that the nominations came from not just their peers, but from a cross-section of individuals from the GRCC community makes it that much more special.”
Among the award criteria categories outlined are respect for people and environment, responsiveness, integrity and diversity.
Kidder is a GRCC alum and has worked at the Secchia Institute since 1991. His nominators described him as “…simply put – a model for excellence,” while another expressed how “No one gets less than his best; every event – and every individual – receives tremendous respect and effort.”
The daily employee newsletter of Grand Rapids Community College 
Mike is a very deserving person for this award. For many a night and day Mike is always around, whether in the front of the house or usually the back of the house coordinating wherever is necessary. Job well done, Mike.
Sincerely,
William E. DeHaan, Adjunct Faculty, SICE