Casper College employees receive awards and recognition for the 2025-2026 year

The sun sets behind the Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center on the Casper College campus. The building serves as a central hub for student services and administration at the college, which recently hosted its annual retirement and recognition reception to honor outstanding faculty and staff for the 2025-2026 academic year. (Casper College photo)

Ten Casper College employees received awards and recognition for the 2025-2026 year during the college’s annual retirement and recognition reception.

Sarah Trottier, a teacher at the Inga Thorson Early Childhood Learning Center, received the Robert O. Durst Classified Staff of the Year award. The award honors a classified staff member for an outstanding reputation for service in job performance, knowledge, effectiveness, character, communication, cooperation, judgment, and interactions. Other nominees included Angel Anderson, a teacher at the Inga Thorson Early Childhood Learning Center; Libby Edwards, executive assistant for administrative and student services; Jessah Molina, strategic communications and marketing graphic designer; Jordan Sanders, a teacher at the Inga Thorson Early Childhood Learning Center; Megan Schafer, executive assistant for administrative and student services; and Sara Whited, custodian.

The Outstanding Administrator of the Year was Olivia Wickman, Hathaway and compliance coordinator. The award recognizes an administrator who demonstrates an outstanding reputation for service in job performance, knowledge, effectiveness, character, communication, cooperation, judgment, and interactions. Other nominees for the award included Bethany Casali, admissions representative; Liz Dobson, Casper College Residence Hall area coordinator; and Heather Mangan, Casper College Wellness Center counselor.

Valerie Innella Maiers, a visual arts instructor, received the Judith Bailey Scully Teaching Award. Established by Casper College alumnus Marlan O. Scully in honor of his wife, Judith, the award recognizes faculty members for academic excellence, as exemplified by Judith’s outstanding accomplishments as a student at Casper College and the University of Wyoming.

The Garth Shanklin Faculty Leadership Excellence Award honors longtime Casper College Emeritus psychology instructor Garth Shanklin. It recognizes a full-time Casper College teaching faculty member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to teaching and has made significant contributions to the college’s collegial community. The award was presented to Chontelle Gray, theater instructor.

Mark Mehn, a chemistry instructor, was recognized with the Rosenthal Outstanding Educator Award. To be selected for the award, the recipient must demonstrate the qualities of an outstanding educator, document participation in professional organizations and/or activities, and take an active role in the community and/or out-of-school cultural activities.

James Chappelow, business instructor, and Emil Williams, auto body instructor, were named the Phi Theta Kappa Terrific Learning Coach of the Semester, with Chappelow honored for the fall and Williams for the spring. The award recognizes instructors who have made a difference in Casper College students’ educational careers.

The Kim Byrd Service to Students Award went to Erin Ford, director of counseling at Casper College. The Casper College Student Senate created the monthly Service to Students Award to honor the outstanding work Casper College nonfaculty employees do to support students and help them succeed. The student senate selects the annual winner from the list of monthly winners.

Two new awards made their appearance at the event. The first was the Innovative Digital Teaching Award, which recognizes one faculty member who demonstrates innovative digital teaching by using technology to solve a teaching problem, creating a clear, easy-to-navigate “road map” for students that could include course delivery methods such as flipped or hybrid formats; providing a variety of instructional methods; demonstrating “transparent design” with clear objectives, tasks, and criteria, and adhering to Universal Design for Learning principles; and finally engaging students in technology exploration by having them create using technology. Examples include students using virtual or augmented reality, simulations, artificial intelligence, or collaborative video conferencing. The winner of the Digital Teaching Award was Carli Holcomb, visual arts instructor.

The other new award was the Commitment to Teaching and Learning Award, which recognizes one faculty member who demonstrates a commitment to teaching and learning through forward-thinking practices. This award had three areas that a faculty member needed to demonstrate, including interaction: how the instructor builds a “sense of belonging” and fosters peer-to-peer connections. Student-first commitment: how the instructor goes “above and beyond.” Examples included proactive check-ins, campus involvement, support for students outside of class, wellness support, student feedback or quotes, etc. Finally, continuous improvement, which included how the instructor used feedback or data to continuously improve. Examples included applying information from the Casper College Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, the Casper College Digital Learning Center, or conferences/external public displays, publications, or creative activities; documenting changes based on assessment, surveys, or course evaluation feedback; providing strong evidence of learning outcomes; and developing innovative course materials. The winner of the Commitment to Teaching and Learning Award was Bri Weigel, communications instructor.

At a Glance:

• Event Focus: The 2025-2026 annual retirement and recognition reception honoring employee excellence in teaching, service, administration, and digital innovation.
• Award Winners:
• Sarah Trottier, Robert O. Durst Classified Staff of the Year
• Olivia Wickman, Outstanding Administrator of the Year
• Valerie Innella Maiers, Judith Bailey Scully Teaching Award
• Chontelle Gray, Garth Shanklin Faculty Leadership Excellence Award
• Mark Mehn, Rosenthal Outstanding Educator Award
• James Chappelow and Emil Williams, PTK Terrific Learning Coaches
• Erin Ford, Kim Byrd Service to Students Award
• Carli Holcomb, Innovative Digital Teaching Award
• Bri Weigel, Commitment to Teaching and Learning Award

​