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Dudd Dempsey, Administrative Assistant to the President of Dalton
State, and Nick Carty, Associate Professor of Speech, recently
received high honors from their peers and the DSC Foundation during
Dalton State College’s 34th Honors Convocation.
Dempsey, who has
been employed by the institution for nearly 18 years, was presented
the Beth Burdick Service Excellence Award, and Carty, who has taught
for the College since 2003, received the DSC Foundation Award for
Excellence in Teaching. |
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“Dudd Dempsey has been described as
‘incredibly effective and productive,’ ‘a creative problem solver,’
and one who ‘continually goes above and beyond expectations,’”
commented David Elrod, Director of Institutional Advancement at the
College who presented Dempsey with her award.
“She is recognized as
the indispensable go-to person for anyone on campus who needs help.”
Vice-President for Academic Affairs John Hutcheson said that Nick
Carty brings a passion to the act of teaching and a wide and
cosmopolitan range of experiences and interests into the classroom
which he uses to create enthusiasm for the subject matter.
“Although
he teaches subjects – public speaking and foreign language – about
which many students are extremely apprehensive, he has shown
extraordinary creativity in finding ways to engage his students’
senses and their passions as well as their intellect,” Hutcheson
says.
Carty says that he uses empathy in the classroom to encourage
students to keep speaking up and to improve their oral communication
skills.”
“Students in communication and foreign language classes
often wear their feelings very close to the surface, and they tend
to have a reticence to speak up,” Carty explains.
“When you try to
see the world through their perspective, you get insight into how to
help them overcome often irrational but still deeply felt fears.
Thus, come graded speech time, students can truly put their best
foot forward.”
Dempsey and Carty each received a check for $1,000
during the ceremony.
Faculty and staff members were nominated by
their peers in their respective categories, and then selected by
faculty and staff committees which reviewed the nominees and their
portfolios. The committee that selects the winner of the DSC
Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching is represented by
students as well.
Both recipients believe that going the extra mile
for Dalton State students and colleagues is central to their work
philosophies.
Dempsey, whose parents immigrated to the United States
from Estonia, says she has modeled much of her efficiency and work
ethic on the example set by her parents.
“As a child of immigrants,
I appreciate the courage my parents had when they literally left
everything familiar and came to the United States,” Dempsey says.
“Growing up, I watched them take pride in their work and in
continually doing the right thing. I hope I do honor to their memory
by always putting forth my best effort.”
Carty, who advocates
“experiential learning” in the classroom, uses “hands-on” activities
as tools for making learning foreign language fun.
“In French II, we
go to the DSC Fitness Center and use resistance training equipment
during our unit on body parts vocabulary and command forms of
verbs,” says Carty, who is also a certified personal fitness
trainer.
“So an ideal venue for an oral exam is also a great place
to learn about a fitness routine that can pay lifetime health and
wellness benefits. In the past, we have also hosted a French Open
Tennis Tournament and a fashion show. And each semester in French I
we have cooking lessons as well. All of these experiential
activities engage students and show them how the language and the
best of French culture can be practically applied to their everyday
lives.” |
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