The Gadsden State Community College Alumni Association honored three faculty/staff members and two community supporters with annual awards given Dec. 12. 9 at the college’s annual holiday brunch.
Kelsey Taylor, Clinical Coordinator and Instructor of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Valley Street Campus, received the Outstanding Academic Faculty Award.
Joe Hulsey of the Ayers Campus received the Outstanding Technical Faculty Award.
Beverly Elam received the Outstanding Support Staff of the Year award.
Garen Mullin received the Alumni Association’s annual Distinguished Service Award and Brad Finley was recognized as Gadsden State Alumnus of the Year.
The awards were presented by John Roberson, Director of Development and Alumni Relations; Julie White, Vice President of the Alumni Association; and Dr. Kathy Murphy, Gadsden State President. Each winner received a framed certificate along with an engraved brick that will be placed in the college courtyard located on the Wallace Drive campus.
Taylor joined the faculty at Gadsden State in 2018 after working as an ultrasound technician and medical records and laboratory technician. In 2021, while working full-time, Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies from Jacksonville State University.
“Kelsey has been integral to the growth and success of the DMS program,” Roberson said at the awards presentation. “The DMS program has a 97% success rate, which is exceptional.”
Taylor assists with curriculum development and instruction; manages student compliance with vaccinations, background checks, and drug screenings; and is responsible for coordinating student clinical rotations to more sites in three states.
“She regularly tutors students, and her infectious smile and friendly spirit (puts) the students at ease,” Roberson said. “She is described as the epitome of excellence in everything she does.”
Hulsey is a product of the State of Gadsden, which receives certification in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. He obtained a contractor’s license and owned and operated a successful HVAC/R business. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Alabama and is working on a master’s degree in education from Athens State University.
Hulsey decided to turn his education and experience into an opportunity to teach others when, in 2015, he became an HVAC instructor at the Ayers campus.
“As soon as he was hired, Joe started knocking on the doors of local HVAC companies and vendors to let them know who he was and his intentions to build the program,” Roberson said. “With community support behind him, Joe has upgraded the classroom and lab with the latest technology. His teaching techniques earned him the respect of his students and motivated them to succeed.
Hulsey is president of the Alabama Council of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Educators, an organization that helps new and developing instructors in the HVAC/R field. He is also a member of the Class of 2022 of Leadership Calhoun, a program of the Calhoun Chamber of Commerce.
Elam first came to Gadsden State as a college student and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Office Administration while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. She began her career at Gadsden State more than 20 years ago as a financial aid clerk and spent most of her tenure at the school as an administrative assistant in the Business, legal studies and computer science.
She is responsible for entering class schedule, creating textbook list, scheduling lab facilities, reconciling leave reports, submitting contracts, etc. She is the safety and security representative for the college building and has served on many committees, including the catalog committee. She currently chairs the Student Affairs Committee and is a graduate of the Gadsden State Leadership Development Institute.
“Her letter of appointment says she mothers everyone and does everything possible to help students and faculty through service to Gadsden State,” Roberson said. “She is certainly a person of great integrity and character.”
Mullen graduated from Gadsden State twice, with associate degrees in emergency medical services and general studies. While in college, he served as Vice President of the Student Government Association and was instrumental in bringing about several projects on campus.
A nationally registered firefighter and paramedic, he works two full-time jobs: a medic on Engine 9 for the Gadsden Fire Department and a firefighter for the town of Argo.
Mullen is working on a bachelor’s degree in integrated studies at Jacksonville State University and studying to become a paramedic.
Finley graduated from Harry M. Ayers State Technical College, now known as Gadsden State’s Ayers Campus, and had a very successful career in electronics. In October, he received the Merit Award from the American Society of Testing and Materials and was awarded the title of Fellow.
ASTM is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems and services.
Finley also sits on the organization’s G01 committee, which helps set corrosion testing standards for international companies.
For more information about the Alumni Association, visit GadsdenState.edu/Alumni.
0 Comments