Faculty and staff give their all to help students reach their goals.
Each year, the Colorado Community College System honors some of its best and brightest faculty and staff members from colleges across the state. This year’s four honorees from Front Range Community College have worked especially hard to meet students’ needs.
“I’m continually impressed with how creative and resourceful our employees are in helping our students navigate the challenges of school, work and life,” said FRCC President Andy Dorsey. “Each of our awardees plays a critical role in helping FRCC enrich lives in our communities through learning.”
Fifty-four employees from across the 13 CCCS schools were honored this week as part of the statewide system’s annual Commitment to Excellence Awards. The winners were lauded for their contributions to the overall success of their college, our students and our communities.
FRCC Employee Award Winners
Outstanding Faculty Member: Cory Reinking (History)
Cory’s students marvel at his “vast expertise” and “unmatched knowledge,” while also describing him as “exhilarating,” “influential” and “lit.” They leave his classes feeling empowered, ready to challenge traditional historical narratives—and able to apply historical skills to improve their lives.
In class he encourages them to challenge their conception of their world. Cory has been teaching at FRCC for the last 13 years. He sees today’s history as more active, participatory and diverse—and his enduring passion for teaching is clear.
Despite the limitations of Zoom learning, he has successfully managed to engage his students throughout the pandemic. One said, “This was the most successful virtual class of all that I have taken.” Another gushed, “This was the best class of the semester and maybe of my entire college experience.”
Outstanding Instructor: Glori Gesell (Art History)
Glori has been teaching art history at FRCC since 2004. One colleague writes: “She truly cares about her students. She always listens and encourages them to explore and look closer at visual art and notice the distinct elements.”
Glori’s approach to teaching draws on her diverse degree work that includes majors in studio art, theater, dance and art history. She is a licensed K-12 art teacher whose passion is to empower students—by helping them discover how they learn best, so they can understand their true learning potential.
She loves it when a student experiences a paradigm shift as a result of looking at art and seeing the world in a new way. “You can tell she loves what she does, and that is contagious for the students.”
Outstanding Administrative/Professional Employee: Financial Aid Service Coordinator Alex Lepert
Alex began her career in higher education as a student employee in the financial aid office at her undergraduate institution in Nebraska. In 2012 she moved to Colorado for a new position at FRCC.
Her colleagues describe Alex as an exceptional and invaluable campus partner. They can depend on her answers to complex questions being researched and thorough. “We also know that when we take (often stressed) students to Alex, they will be treated with respect and concern.”
She leads her team with grace and genuine care—and exhibits extraordinary patience and kindness to everyone. As a “true leader… she goes the extra hundred miles to do whatever she can to assist and support students and her colleagues.”
Outstanding Classified Employee: Administrative Assistant Lori Lough
Lori’s colleagues describe her with words like: Conscientious, organized, welcoming, resourceful, thoughtful. They say she brings a “contagious positivity” to their work. “Lori’s always willing to help and goes above and beyond the call of duty.”
She can also answer any technology question her colleagues throw at her—and they say she’s done a remarkable job helping the math department work more effectively and efficiently with tips, support and training on tech tools. One colleague writes, “She is ready, willing, and able to help us with anything we need. In fact, she LOVES helping us.”
Lori truly gets fulfillment from helping make her colleagues’ jobs easier. They gratefully acknowledge that “The Westminster campus math department would not be what it is without her help.”
See all the honorees in the 2022 Commitment to Excellence Awards program.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, Brighton, and online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving 138,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities.
