This year’s Stephen Charry Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence recipient is Nora Villarreal, English instructor. She was selected out of seven total nominees.
Like many other college students, Villarreal said she was not always that interested in college.
“It feels incredible to win the award,” Villarreal said. “As a student I did just enough to get by. With a lot of guidance from IVCC instructors I realized how important education was and went on to earn three degrees. I also love to have the ability to help other students.”
The award is named in honor of former professor Stephen Charry, who was an instructor here from 1999-2008. Charry modeled the ideal faculty member and spent a great deal of time being involved with the community.
A faculty member has to fall under a certain criteria for becoming eligible to win. The faculty member must first be nominated by a student. The member must have a total of at least three years spent at IVCC. From here, the nominee must send a biography to the deciding committee on basic information of their background which includes their education and degrees, what programs and groups they are a part of here at IVCC, and other accomplishments.
Villarreal is the director of the Writing Center, director of the Honors Program, is a part of the Diversity Committee, Convocation Committee, and also a part of the Writing across Campus committee.
After being involved with these committees, Villarreal still has the duty of teaching English.
She also accumulated three degrees through her educational career which includes her Associate’s Degree from IVCC, her Master’s Degree from Northern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State University.
Villarreal accepted this award with a lot gratitude: “I was just honored to be a nominee. When I was told I won by Dr. [Lori] Scroggs I was very surprised. I felt like every nominee was very deserving of this award.”
Villarreal was informed she was winner of the award on Feb. 18 and will be recognized at an April event.