OCTC Announces Excellence Award Winners for 2023

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (01/11/2024) — Owensboro Community & Technical College's (OCTC) annual employee awards program was held on December 1, 2023. The Awards of Excellence are the pinnacle awards, chosen from nominations submitted by faculty and staff and reviewed by a panel of past recipients, with winners selected in faculty, staff, and administration categories. These awards include a $1,500 stipend to be used for professional development.

Excellence Award for Staff, Penny Howard

Penny Howard has been at OCTC for more than 30 years in an administrative support capacity. She began her career working in the daycare at Owensboro Technical College, in what is now the OCTC's Southeastern Campus. Once KCTCS was established, she held administrative positions with Student Records, the Science department and TRAC Central. Howard now supports the Counseling Center.

Nomination Excerpt: Known for consistently carrying out her job responsibilities with a smile, she goes the extra mile for our students. Once this staff member encountered a student who was distressed by unsuccessful attempts to contact the local VA office, fearing the loss of VA benefits. Upon hearing the student's situation, she obtained his name and contact details and personally went the extra mile by driving to our local VA office to convey the information to a representative, ensuring the student would receive the necessary assistance.

Excellence Award for Administrative Staff, Sharmy Davis

Sharmy Davis is OCTC's Dean of Students and Director of Culture, where she oversees the activities of the Success Coaches and the Pathfinder Den. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland- Baltimore County, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Davis earned a Master in Public Administration from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master in Business Administration degree from Midway University.

She was most recently named as a member of the Greater Owensboro 40 Under 40 for 2023.

Davis is currently working on completing the doctoral program in Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. She began her career with OCTC in 2019 and previously worked for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Nomination Excerpt: She is a true professional with a positive attitude who gives 110% to her position at OCTC and volunteers at many community events. She played an integral part in collaborating with OCTC faculty & staff and other educational institutions to create an inaugural regional diversity conference hosted by OCTC. In addition, she was beneficial in securing donations for the purchase of backpacks filled with school supplies to ensure that children lacking resources were well-prepared for the new school year. Her commitment to philanthropy and community is evident in all that she does.

Excellence Award for Faculty, Matt Alschbach

Alschbach is a History Professor at OCTC, he has been at the college since 2012. He earned a master's degree in history from San Diego State University and a bachelor's degree in history from California State University San Marcos. He has presented his research at numerous conferences and events, discussing topics such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Muhammad Ali, the Salem witch trials, temperance and prohibition, the U.S. Constitution, and the historical role of women as legitimate practitioners of medicine. Alschbach serves on several college committees dedicated to students' success both in college and in life.

Nomination Excerpt: An exceptional leader whose unwavering dedication to enthusiastic engagement, experiential learning, and cultural competency has profoundly impacted our students and the entire OCTC community. In their role, they consistently employ innovative teaching methods, encouraging critical thinking and fostering a deep appreciation of the subject area. they consistently demonstrate a genuine interest in the growth & development of colleagues. They have been instrumental in nurturing the careers of junior faculty while enhancing the quality of education at OCTC.

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