Faculty and staff give their all to help students reach their goals.
Each year, the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) 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.
“FRCC’s employees continually amaze me with their boundless creativity and unwavering dedication in guiding students through school, work and life’s challenges,” expressed FRCC President Colleen Simpson, EdD.
“Each awardee plays a vital role in empowering FRCC students to flourish and succeed, both in college and beyond. Their heartfelt commitment and tireless efforts truly make a difference in the lives of our students, inspiring them to reach for their dreams and achieve their fullest potential.”
Colorado Community College System Chancellor Joe Garcia emphasized the impact of community college employees.
“Community colleges provide transformative education and training experiences for Coloradans who need it most,” he said. “That mission is powered by the incredible faculty, instructors and staff who demonstrate true dedication and teamwork in everything they do. These dedicated individuals help unlock lifelong learning among our students and guide them toward personal and professional success.”
More than 50 employees from 13 community colleges and the CCCS System Office were honored in April as part of the statewide system’s annual Commitment to Excellence Awards.
FRCC Employee Award Winners
Administrator of the Year: Mary Wolf | Program Coordinator, Law Enforcement Academy
2 Years of Service
Mary is an exemplary employee who demonstrates outstanding dedication to FRCC and our students. She is the person cadets can rely on for answers to their questions, and if she doesn’t have an answer, she will find it for them.
She has been instrumental in keeping the academy running and has been outstanding at supporting this program. Mary is a constant source of support, actively seeking ways to streamline the unique scheduling process while ensuring that all requirements are met.
Classified Employee of the Year: Nicole Martinez | Administrative Assistant
3 Years of Service
Nicole, who is part of the Disability Support Services and Student Success department at FRCC, works tirelessly not only to support students with disabilities but also goes above and beyond to assist other departments and committees to ensure that all students, particularly those with marginalized identities, feel like they belong.
She immediately makes them feel welcome by creating a warm, inclusive environment and talking to them in a way that makes them feel comfortable and understood. She has also been instrumental in supporting Student Life and the Wolf Welcome committee in developing and executing events to ensure all students at FRCC feel included.
Faculty of the Year: David Hough | Automotive, HVAC/R, Highway Maintenance and Welding Department
3 Years of Service
David’s passion for the welding department and dedication to students shows.
He’s an FRCC alumnus and uses his experiences to motivate and challenge students. He holds students accountable to industry standards, but they know that he is there to support them in their academic and career endeavors.
Instructor of the Year: Nancy Reno | Clinical Instructor, Nursing
4 Years of Service
Nancy is extremely dedicated to the student experience through the clinical coordination work she completes. She is patient, empathetic, kind and strives for equity, and she is an advocate for students learning through her work.
Nancy lays the groundwork in her courses that allows the higher levels courses to build on. Without the foundation that Nancy lays for the students, the other courses would not run as smoothly.
See all the honorees in the 2025 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 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.
