BC3 honors employees' service; secretary's 50 years recognized
Among employees honored by Butler County Community College recently was Natalie Kitzko, a secretary with half a century of service to the college.
Kitzko, a 1968 BC3 graduate, said her service years really were “52, if you count college work study.”
The 71-year-old received a standing ovation Thursday night as employee anniversaries and retirements were celebrated at a banquet at the college's Founders Hall.
This was the second year in which BC3 recognized an employee with 50 years of employment.
David Huseman, a professor in humanities and social sciences, was honored in 2017 for a half-century of service to BC3. He, like Kitzko who is a secretary in the records and registration department, continues to work for the college.
Kitzko began as a part-time college work study student at BC3 in the summer of 1966, after graduating from Butler High School and enrolling in the college's two-year secretarial science program.
She began her full-time employment as secretary to the college's assistant deans of humanities following her graduation in BC3's first commencement in June 1968.
Also honored were 19 employees recognized for service anniversaries totaling 330 years of employment and six retirees, for 166 years.
Members of BC3's board of trustees, education foundation board of directors and alumni council were recognized for their 40 years of collective service.
BC3 presented individual Above and Beyond awards to Janice Reiter and Kevin Smith, and the group Above and Beyond Award to Rebecca Smith and Suzanne Wasilewski.
Above and Beyond awards are “symbolic of all of us here at BC3. We don't punch in and punch out. We don't look at clocks. We get the job done as a student-centered institution,” said Nick Neupauer, BC3 president.Reiter, event management secretary, was honored for exceptional service in accommodating those who reserve BC3 facilities for their events. Kevin Smith, interim coordinator of fire and HAZMAT training programs, was recognized for enlisting sign language practitioners to coordinate fire training for a deaf and mute woman whose goal was to become a member of the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company.Rebecca Smith, assistant director of financial aid, and Wasilewski, admissions representative, were recognized for helping the college utilize integrated student management software and work with student databases.Also honored were:For 10 years of service: Jessica Cooper, work force development secretary; Kiley Cribbs, coordinator of EMS and police training programs; Karen Fair, STEM secretary; Sally Lehnerd, custodial staff; Stephen Mayfield, assistant professor, STEM; Ann McCandless, dean of educational technology; Judy McGarrah, information center receptionist; Bonnie Morrow, finance office assistant; Carla Schoentag, KEYS student facilitator and instructor; John Suesser, director of BC3 @ LindenPointe in Hermitage; and Amy Xin, associate professor, STEM.For 20 years of service: Juli Louttit, director of financial aid; Diane Ratti, nursing and allied health professor; and Ed Stark Jr., maintenance grounds coordinator.For 25 years of service: Randy Lucas, custodian, and Mary McGinnis, transfer coordinator and academic counselor.For 30 years of service: Matt Kovac, dean of STEM; and Stella Smith, associate director of financial aid.Retirees in the past year or those who have announced their retirements include Kathy Sommers, director of information technology, 43 years; Steve Catt, director of event and grant management, and Linda Dodd, executive director of human resources and Equal Opportunity compliance officer, and Charlene Wright, professor, business, 31 years; Don Stewart, custodial staff, and Lexie Jones, coordinator of tutoring, 15 years.Board members honored were: Glenn Miller, 20 years as member of BC3's board of trustees; Mary Beth Rock, for 10 years with BC3's alumni council; and Jocelyn Howard Sinopoli, for 10 years with the BC3 Education Foundation board of directors.
