Events
College Celebrates Student, Faculty and Staff Excellence
RALEIGH, N.C. (March 27, 2025) – Wake Tech recognized special colleagues and students Thursday for demonstrating excellence in teaching, leadership, service and academics during An Evening of Excellence at the Southern Wake Campus.
More than 20 faculty and staff members were awarded for their service and dedication. Eight students received student achievement awards.
Award recipients were treated to a special dinner and videos recognizing their accomplishments. Everyone received a plaque to display and a cash award.
Wake Tech Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer Dr. Gayle Greene thanked the employees and students for their hard work and dedication to the college.
"We are recognizing some of our colleagues who've had an exceptional year. Some of you have been exceptional for many years! I think that all of you are awesome, and I appreciate everything you do for the college and our community."
Eight students received the Academic Excellence Award:
- Amos Castro, Mathematics & Sciences
- William Guevara Jr., Engineering, Technologies & Skilled Trades
- Sean Johnson, Nursing
- Krupa Patel, Health Sciences
- Jessica C. Phillips, Liberal Arts
- David S. Seward, Transportation Technologies
- Catalina Shaw, Business & Professional Services
- Olga Vaurynovich, Information Technology
Seven faculty members received the Excellence in Teaching Award:
- John Harlan Daniels, Health Sciences
- Staci Herman Drauss, Business and Professional Services
- Austin H. Jones, Mathematics & Sciences
- Queen Lane, First Year Academy
- Byron Latil, Engineering, Technologies & Skilled Trades
- Jim Matlock, Information Technology
- Rebecca Smith, Liberal Arts
Six adjunct faculty members received the Excellence in Adjunct Teaching Award:
- Lora Coleman Alexander, Workforce Development
- Lauree King, Nursing
- Herman G. Tant III, Information Technology
- Thomas W. Tucholski, Liberal Arts
- Alicia Turner, Liberal Arts
- Kaitlyn M. Walker, Business & Professional Services
One staff member received the Excellence in Executive Leadership Award:
- Monica Gemperlein, Workforce Development
Four staff members received the Excellence in Leadership Award:
- Matthew Burns, Communications and Marketing
- Janine Abbate Maldonado, Workforce Development
- Maya F. Rosman, College Development
- David Sweeney, Communications and Marketing
Three staff members received the Excellence in Service Award:
- Peter Graber, Information Technology Services
- Emily Holliday, Information Technology Services
- Joseph E. Winn, Facility Services
Five winners were given special awards.
Special congratulations to Instructor of the Year Rebecca Smith and Staff Member of the Year Joseph E. Winn, who will represent Wake Tech at the statewide North Carolina Community College System Excellence Competition.
Kaitlyn M. Walker was named the Adjunct Teacher of the Year. William Guevara Jr., who is pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology and is a former president of the Student Government Association, was named the Dwight O. Ryan Outstanding Student of the Year.
Paula Childs received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Childs has volunteered with the Wake Adult Volunteer Educational Services tutoring program for eight years, giving approximately 450 hours of her time to students in Wake Tech's College and Career Readiness program.
The Excellence Awards are sponsored annually by the Wake Tech Foundation, which receives and administers donations for scholarships and college programs.
