Endowed Teaching Chairs & Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Awards

Endowed Teaching Chairs

Endowed Teaching Chair Awards are granted to Seminole State College faculty to acknowledge the invaluable contributions they make to Seminole State as outstanding educators. Applicants are nominated by their fellow faculty and staff members. The nomination period takes place each fall, usually in October. An email announcement is sent to all faculty and staff when the nomination period opens, and notifications are also posted on the website. The deadline to nominate an Endowed Teaching Chair will also be noted in all announcements.

A committee comprised of Seminole State faculty and staff gathers and reviews a wide array of information about each nominee. Classroom visits to observe teaching style are also conducted. A committee of members from the Foundation Board of Directors reviews a slate of candidates forwarded to them by the Seminole State Screening Committee and interviews the finalists. Honorees of Seminole State College's prestigious Endowed Teaching Chair Award each receive a $5,000 cash prize in recognition of their achievements.

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Awards

The Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Awards were established in 2011 to recognize nominees selected as finalists but not conferred with Endowed Teaching Chairs, acknowledging the invaluable contributions these educators make to Seminole State College. These awards are provided through funding from the Ken Sylvester Endowed Teaching Chair, respecting his commitment to quality instruction by recognizing and fostering teaching excellence. Faculty Excellence Award honorees receive a $1,000 cash award in recognition of their achievements. 

Any questions concerning nominations can be emailed to the Foundation for Seminole State College.

Establishing an Endowed Teaching Chair

Many colleges and universities consider the objective of an Endowed Teaching Chair Award is to attract prominent researchers to join their faculty. At a community or state college, however, the main purpose of a teaching chair is to reward those who work the hardest for the students. Our goal at Seminole State is to facilitate the learning process so that our students may graduate with the strongest educational foundation possible.

An Endowed Teaching Chair is fully funded and ready to be endowed once it has reached $100,000.

If you are interested in establishing an Endowed Teaching Chair at Seminole State College, please call 407.708.4567 or email the Foundation.

Established Endowed Teaching Chairs

  • Balfour Beatty Construction
  • HCA Florida (formerly Central Florida Regional Hospital)
  • CenturyLink (formerly Embarq)
  • Chesley G. Magruder Foundation
  • Cirent/Agere, in honor of Dr. Peter Panousis and Mr. Robert B. Koch
  • Citizens Bank of Florida, B.F. Wheeler Sr.
  • Community Partners:
    • AAA National Office
    • Bank of America
    • Convergys
    • The University Club of Orlando
  • E. Ann McGee
  • AdventHealth (formerly Florida Hospital)
  • Ken Sylvester
  • Orlando Health
  • Phoenix International Ltd., Inc.
  • Siemens
  • Truist (formerly SunTrust)
  • Vinson Henderson Memorial
  • Wharton-Smith, Inc. Construction Group
  • Winter Park Health Foundation

Endowed Teaching Chair & Faculty Excellence Award Recipients

During the Board interviews, it has become tradition for a member of the Seminole State College Screening Committee to introduce each finalist. These introductory statements offer incredible insight into the amazing accomplishments and passion for teaching found in our faculty. They also recognize the many ways our faculty members have distinguished themselves. Some of these introductory statements have been linked to the honorees below. You are invited to read these testimonials and find inspiration from the outstanding faculty at Seminole State College.

For complete information about the Endowed Teaching Chair Award Nomination and Selection process, please visit the FAQs tab.

Historical Recipients

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Michael Mendoza
    • Cirent/Agere, in honor of Dr. Peter Panousis and Mr. Robert B. Koch Endowed Teaching Chair 
  • Dr. Jaime Magnetico-Walsh
    • HCA Florida Endowed Teaching Chair 
  • Dr. Ekaterina Goussakova
    • Phoenix International Ltd., Inc. Endowed Teaching Chair 
  • Dr. Neil Vaz
    • Wharton‐Smith, Inc. Construction Group Endowed Teaching Chair 

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Dr. Marisol de Jesus Berrios
  • Dr. Jeanne Diehl-Shaffer
  • Dr. Debra Fahey
  • Dr. David Taylor

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Jacqueline Boyce
    • The Chesley G. Magruder Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Dr. Shahin Kanani
    • Vinson Henderson Memorial Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Dr. Christopher Lorscher
    • Siemens Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Tamara Steffy
    • CenturyLink Endowed Teaching Chair

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Dr. Deborah Barr
  • Mary Colon
  • E. Julie Edstrom
  • Grace Nasnas

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Dr. Jeff Miller
    • AdventHealth Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Dianna Campbell
    • Community Partners Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Dr. Diana Reigelsperger
    • Balfour Beatty Construction Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Marisabel Irizarry
    • Winter Park Health Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Dr. Ekaterina Goussakova, Professor of English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
  • Dr. Chris Lorscher, Professor of Physical Sciences
  • Dr. David Taylor, Professor of Biological Science

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Laura Dickinson
  • Dr. Sandra Dillard
  • Evelyn Edstrom
  • Dr. Ekaterina Goussakova
  • Jennifer Middleton

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Dr. Carissa Baker
    • Phoenix International Ltd. Inc. Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Jim Jollie
    • Wharton-Smith, Inc. Construction Group Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Sharon Moore
    • Central Florida Regional Hospital Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Jay Spaulding
    • Cirent/Agere, in honor of Dr. Peter Panousis and Mr. Robert B. Koch Endowed Teaching Chair

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Dianna Campbell
  • Mary Colon
  • Dr. Van Quach
  • Dr. Lori Theodore

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Dr. Constance Hudspeth
    • CenturyLink Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Dr. Kevin Jordan
    • Vinson Henderson Memorial Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Amee Mehta
    • The Chesley G. Magruder Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Timothy Werhner
    • Siemens Endowed Teaching Chair

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Christina Bisirri
  • Dr. Doreen Collins
  • Dr. Camesha Manzueta
  • Deborah Mead

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Kathryn Rivera
  • Karen Feldman
  • Daniel Gabilondo

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Mayra Eschbach
  • Leslie Sammarco
  • Carlos Vasquez

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Cynthia Godby
    • Cirent/Agere in honor of Dr. Peter Panousis and Mr. Robert B. Koch Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Barbara Lott
    • Central Florida Regional Hospital Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Christine Wright
    • Phoenix International Ltd., Inc. Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Ellen Orr
    • Wharton-Smith, Inc. Construction Group Endowed Teaching Chair

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Scott Freeman
  • Jennifer Middleton
  • Laila Nimri

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

  • Marisabel Irizarry
  • Amee Mehta
  • Jennifer Middleton
  • Vanessa Wynn

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Terri Walsh
    • Citizens Bank of Florida, B. F. Wheeler Sr. Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Jordan Camenker
    • E. Ann McGee Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Bonnie Tensen
    • Orlando Regional Healthcare System Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Carol Perezluha
    • SunTrust Endowed Teaching Chair

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Dr. Michael Artiaga
    • Phoenix International Ltd., Inc. Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Paul Luby
    • Wharton-Smith, Inc. Construction Group Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Dr. Maudrilla "Marge" Thompson
    • Central Florida Regional Hospital Endowed Teaching Chair
  • James Turner
    • Cirent/Agere, in honor of Dr. Peter Panousis and Mr. Robert B. Koch, Endowed Teaching Chair

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Honorees

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Robert "Bobbie" Bell
    • Winter Park Health Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Jeri Rogers
    • Siemens Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Mati San Andres
    • Vinson Henderson Memorial Endowed Teaching Chair

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Dan Gilmartin
    • Orlando Regional Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Kate Kellen
    • Citizens Bank of Florida Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Debbie Socci
    • Florida Hospital Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Debbie Warfield
    • Community Partners Endowed Teaching Chair

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Nana Robertson
    • Ken Sylvester Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Trent Tomengo
    • Wharton-Smith, Inc. Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Patti Yorty
    • Central Florida Regional Hospital Endowed Teaching Chair

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Sue Kellicut
    • Embarq Endowed Teaching Chair (formerly named Sprint Endowed Teaching Chair)
  • Sherry Savrda
    • The Chelsey G. Magruder Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Baboucar Jobe
    • Phoenix International Endowed Teaching Chair

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Cheryl Cantwell
    • Cirent/Agere Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Carol Clayton
    • SunTrust Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Michael Hoover
    • Vinson Henderson Memorial Endowed Teaching Chair
  • William Weber
    • Centex Construction Company, Inc. Endowed Teaching Chair (later renamed Balfour Beatty Construction Endowed Teaching Chair)

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

None

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Barbara Hunnicutt
    • Siemens Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Nelda Malm
    • Winter Park Health Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair

Endowed Teaching Chair Recipients

  • Bill Jordon
    • SunTrust Endowed Teaching Chair
  • Bob Rapalje
  • Kenna Noone
    • The Chesley G. Magruder Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair and Sprint Endowed Teaching Chair

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Awards

Ken Sylvester, a retired Accounting professor, was the inspiration for Seminole State College's Faculty of Excellence Awards.  Sylvester began teaching at Seminole State in 1971, teaching financial, managerial, cost and tax accounting classes for more than three decades! In recognition of his teaching accomplishments, the College honored Sylvester with an "Excellence Award" during the 1998 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Conference in Austin, Texas. Grateful for the opportunities he received at Seminole State, he established an Endowed Teaching Chair as a way of giving back.

The Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Awards were established in 2011 to recognize nominees selected as finalists but not conferred with Endowed Teaching Chairs, acknowledging the invaluable contributions these educators make to Seminole State College. These awards are provided through funding from the Ken Sylvester Endowed Teaching Chair, respecting his commitment to quality instruction by recognizing and fostering teaching excellence. Faculty Excellence Award honorees receive a cash award.

There is no limit on the number of times a faculty member can be honored with a Faculty Excellence Award. Receiving this award in multiple years demonstrates a consistent commitment to quality instruction that is to be admired by the College’s entire faculty and staff, our students and our community partners in education.

Faculty Excellence Award honorees are selected through the same process as our Endowed Teaching Chairs. After an extensive selection process conducted by peers from the College’s faculty and staff, all the finalists are interviewed by a committee of the Foundation's Board of Directors. During these interviews, it has become tradition for a member of the Seminole State College Screening Committee to introduce each finalist. These introductory statements offer incredible insight into the amazing accomplishments and passion for teaching found in our faculty. They also recognize the many ways faculty members have distinguished themselves.

Continue reading about Sylvester's career journey and his everlasting impact to Seminole State College of Florida. »

Ken Sylvester Faculty Excellence Award Honorees

2022-23

  • Dr. Marisol de Jesus Berrios
  • Dr. Debra Fahey
  • Dr. David Taylor
  • Dr. Jeanne Diehl-Shaffer

2018-19

  • Dianna Campbell
  • Mary Colon
  • Dr. Van Quach
  • Dr. Lori Theodore

2017-18

  • Christina Bisirri
  • Dr. Doreen Collins
  • Dr. Camesha Manzueta
  • Deborah Mead

2016-17

  • Kathryn Rivera
  • Karen Feldman
  • Daniel Gabilondo

2015-16

  • Mayra Eschbach
  • Leslie Sammarco
  • Carlos Vasquez

2014-15

  • Scott Freeman
  • Jennifer Middleton
  • Laila Nimri

2013-14

  • Marisabel Irizarry
  • Amee Mehta
  • Jennifer Middleton
  • Vanessa Wynn

2012-13

2011-12

2010-11

Endowed Teaching Chair FAQs

Most Asked Endowed Teaching Chair Questions

Category:  Endowed Teaching Chair
What is an Endowed Teaching Chair?
Category:  Endowed Teaching Chair
Do the finalists who are not named an Endowed Teaching Chair receive anything?
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How are semifinalists selected in the Endowed Teaching Chair process?
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Who is eligible for participation in the process?
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What are my responsibilities if I accept nomination for an Endowed Teaching Chair?
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How are the finalists determined?
Category:  Endowed Teaching Chair
Who decides who sits on the screening committee?
Category:  Endowed Teaching Chair
Who selects the ETC honorees and FEA winners?
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Isn't it more important to provide funding for student scholarships than for recognizing professors?
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How do a committee process and a Board vote ensure the best teachers are truly honored?

Contact

Foundation for Seminole State
1055 AAA Drive
Heathrow, FL 32746
407.708.4567
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