Chattanooga State Community College announces the selection of two staff members and four faculty members as the recipients of the 2011-2012 Excellence Awards. The Excellence Awards are the highest honor given to Chattanooga State employees. Award winners are nominated and selected by their peers in the support staff association, the professional staff association, and the faculty senate. The Chattanooga State Foundation sponsors the annual Excellence Awards and presents each of the recipients with $500.

Robert Prytula, associate professor and program director for Fire Science Technology, received the Excellence in Advising Award. Mr. Prytula’s duties include teaching Fire Science Technology courses, advising students, and program administration. A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, he has worked at Chattanooga State since 2005. His wife Debora is also a Chattanooga State employee who works as a receptionist for the dental program, and regional health programs administrative assistant in the Division of Nursing and Allied Health.

Dr. Angela Everett, professor of Mathematics at Chattanooga State’s Kimball site, received the Excellence in Teaching Award. She earned both a B.S. and a M.S. degree in Mathematics from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. In addition, she earned an Ed.D, in Mathematics Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Everett’s duties include teaching courses from elementary algebra to calculus. She also has the responsibility of operating the Math Lab at the Kimball site. She has been part of Chattanooga State’s faculty since 1997. A resident of Grundy County, Dr. Everett and her husband, Mike, have two children, Brett, 8, Brady 6, plus her stepdaughter, Kayla, 19, who is a Surgical Technology student at Chattanooga State.

Lori A. Robinson, assistant professor and clinical coordinator for Sonography programs in the Division of Nursing and Allied Health, was recognized for Excellence in Teaching for the Technologies. A 1985 graduate of Chattanooga State, she completed the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management through Bryan College’s Aspire program. Robinson has worked in the medical imaging field performing ultrasound, CT scan, MRI and x-ray for more than 26 years. She continues to work PRN at a local hospital performing CT scan and ultrasound to maintain her patient care and medical imager skills. At Chattanooga State, her duties include making the majority of the clinical visits to students training in the field, primary instructor for Abdominal Sonography courses and labs in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, and assisting with lab instruction in physics, OB/GYN Sonography and Vascular Sonography courses. She and her husband, Don, will celebrate 26 years of wedded bliss in July of this year. They have one daughter, Rebecca Paige Robinson, 18, a student at Lee College who hopes to transfer to Chattanooga State’s nursing program in the fall.

Michael Matthews is the senior instructor for massage therapy at the Tennessee Technology Center’s Eastgate Town Center location. He has a diverse background that includes a B.A. degree in Geology from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI, a M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a diploma in Massage Therapy from the Tennessee Institute of Healing Arts in Chattanooga. Matthews worked as an adjunct instructor from 1990-1999 in Chattanooga State’s old hazardous material program before becoming the massage therapy instructor in 2007. He teaches the entire massage therapy curriculum, which is comprised of courses in Swedish, therapeutic, and deep tissue massage. In addition, he instructs his students in anatomy and physiology as well as business. His wife Susie Matthews, DVM, is the program director for the Veterinary Technology program at Chattanooga State. The Tennessee Technology Center’s student services coordinator, Suzanne Myatt received the Professional Staff Excellence Award. Her 10 years with the TTC has prepared her for her numerous job requirements that include career services and counseling, student enrollment, admissions support, event planning, financial aid assistance, recruitment, SkillsUSA advisor, coordinator of the TTC Outstanding Student of the Year, and the graduation planning team. Ms. Myatt’s sister, Judy Mabe, is an instructor in the Dental Hygiene program at Chattanooga State. In her free time, Ms Myatt makes sure her Boston Terrier, Bailey, lives in the lap of luxury.

Lisa Philips is an administrative secretary who has worked at Chattanooga State since 2005. She also earned an associate of arts degree at Chattanooga State. Her job with Institutional Effectiveness requires organization, attention to detail, and the ability to meet strict deadlines for federal and state reporting. Additionally, she was involved with risk assessment, research and data, the College’s Quality Enhancement Plan, faculty evaluations (IDEA), and SACS accreditation. Currently, Mrs. Phillips is filling in as the administrative secretary to Chattanooga State President Jim Catanzaro. She has two sons, Michael and Matt. Michael, a UT grad with a double major in Business and Landscape Design, owns a landscaping business in Chattanooga that focuses on native plants. Matt, who has a Masters degree from Clemson University in Real Estate Development, is currently Project Manager and LEED Director for CBL & Assoc. He and his wife are expecting their first child in June.

For information about Chattanooga State Community College and its educational programs, call the Chattanooga State information hotline at (423) 697-4404 or toll free at (866) 547-3733. Information is available at on the Chattanooga State website at www.chattanoogastate.edu, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChattState, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ChattStateCC.

Chattanooga State Community College is a comprehensive, regionally accredited community college, governed by the policies and guidelines as set forth by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Chattanooga State’s mission is to transform the lives of individuals and to develop the capacities of the business and industrial communities through technical and postsecondary education. Founded in 1965, the college serves a six-county area in Southeast Tennessee and offers more than 50 educational programs.