The Liberal Arts Division at Montgomery County Community College held its second annual Excellence in Liberal Arts Awards (ELAA) before a packed crowd of faculty, students, and family in the Parkhouse Hall Atrium on the Blue Bell Campus.  Faculty nominate and select students for the awards in each of the 18 disciplines in the Liberal Arts Division based on academic excellence. 

“The ELAAs have quickly become a premier event for the Liberal Arts division.  Not only is a wonderful way for us to honor students for their academic excellence, but it also offers us the opportunity to shine a light on the academic disciplines that make the Liberal Arts division such a creative and vibrant learning community," said Dr. Patricia McEnery, Assistant Academic Dean for Liberal Arts.

This year’s honorees include:

• Catherine Calderon, Bensalem - English
• Aidan Cipolla, Wyncote - First Year Experience
• Mac Carson, Norristown - Liberal Studies
• Rebecca Casseus, Elkins Park - World Languages
• Peyton Finacchio, Pennsburg - Theatre
• Lan Ge, Wynnewood - Sociology
• Tayleur Graves, East Norriton - Anthropology
• Yovanna Gonzalez, Norristown - ESL
• Brian Hayes, Lansdale - Music
• Grae Ifiegbu, Chestnut Hill - Spanish
• Mercy Ifiegbu, Chestnut Hill - Communication Studies
• Kevin Murphy, Lansdale - Public Relations
• Nhat Nghia Nguyen, Pottstown - Fine Arts
• Colin O'Reilly, Telford - Philosophy
• Fenlie Petty, Glenside - Political Science
• Kyle Place, Phoenixville - History
• Zachary Sirak, Green Lane - Dance
• Cindy Todd, Willow Grove - Reading

For faculty who attended the ceremony, the ELAAs highlighted not only student achievement but reaffirmed the importance of the liberal arts in preparing students for both professional success and success in life.

“For me, the Excellence in Liberal Arts Awards serve as an affirmation of how Liberal Arts classes inspire and shape our students,” explained Dr. Tom Powers, Assistant Professor of English.  He continued, “Equally, they remind all of us that any of our students – at any moment – can create work that is worthy of celebration.” 

In addition to the students receiving a certificate, each recipient received a medal inscribed with their name and ELAA discipline. Preceding the awarding of the ELAAs, Dr. Timothy J. Brown, Dean of Liberal Arts, gave a motivational speech entitled, “Turn Your Disappointment into Your Destiny.”  The speech highlighted how famous individuals were able to overcome disappointment to achieve success by believing in themselves.

In summarizing his experience at the ELAAs, Dr. Garvey Lundy, Associate Professor of Sociology, shared, “As the semester comes to its final days, when both teachers and students are running on empty, I was privileged to participate, and, more profoundly, honored to see one of my students receive an award for her work in Sociology. The ceremony, the awardees, along with the lyrical speech by Dean Brown, reaffirmed my commitment as a teacher and somehow said to me – “job well done; keep up the good work.”  It was exactly what I needed.”