Meet the 2021-22 distinguished faculty, staff award winners

For their standout service, three Carthage employees were honored at a year-end faculty/staff reception May 20. Meet the 2021-22 recipients:

DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD

Laura Huaracha

Associate Professor of Communication and Digital Media

Finding common themes in students’ nomination forms, presenter Debbie Minsky-Kelly noted the caring nature that Professor Laura Huaracha exhibits. The winner of the annual faculty award often “takes time out of her own personal schedule to make sure each of her students is both mentally and educationally stable.”

Since joining the Carthage faculty in 2007, Prof. Huaracha has taught a variety of communication, graphic design, and photography courses. Students also mentioned her penchant for customizing job recommendations to their individual design styles.

See a list of past recipients

DISTINGUISHED STAFF AWARD

Meggan Mazanet

Director of Campus Events and Conferences

Presenter Ashley Hanson described Meggan Mazanet ’10 as a relentlessly positive collaborator “who works behind the scenes to make sure the events run seamlessly every day.” After working at Carthage as operations office manager and customer service manager from 2001 to 2010, Ms. Mazanet returned in 2018.

Her resourcefulness particularly shone during the pandemic. Ms. Mazanet devised hybrid (in-person and remote) scholarship programs and other events while chairing the campus-wide COVID-19 Coordinating Committee.

 

QUALITY OF LIFE AWARD

John Voynovich

Webcasting Producer

QoL award recipient John Voynovich ’10, M.Ed. ’13, earned praise for “showcasing the very best that Carthage has to offer” by coordinating a packed schedule of live-streamed events.

The community grew especially reliant on Mr. Voynovich’s mastery over the past couple of years. Presenter Chris Grugel noted that, when safety precautions prevented in-person attendance, “parents, family, and friends were able to virtually watch athletic events, attend the Christmas Festival, and even watch their child receive a diploma.”