2023 Employee Awards
Haywood Community College Announces Award Winners
During a campus-wide meeting on Thursday, August 10, HCC leaders presented employees with the Superior Staff and Master Teacher awards. These awards are peer-nominated and state recognized awards given to employees that meet the award criteria, going above and beyond their daily duties at the college. Nominations were accepted and reviewed by the respective selection committee which is comprised of faculty and staff and the prior year’s winner.
The Superior Staff award winner for 2023-2024 was Calab Tate, Admissions & Recruitment
Officer. The Superior Staff winner demonstrates a commitment to the mission of the
North Carolina Community College System and exhibits consistent, excellent job performance
with unselfish devotion to a duty above and beyond normal requirements with a significant
contribution to the advancement of the HCC and its students. Calab started his full-time
career with HCC in 2015 and has found his passion with recruitment and working closely
with students and the community. Calab shows a deep commitment to lifelong learning
and a sincere interest in serving the needs of others. He is an asset to the college
as a leader and through his strength in working collaboratively with others. His work
outside of HCC has strengthened community relationships for the college. Calab is
involved with the HCC Employee Senate committee, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western
North Carolina and the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Haywood program.
The Master Teacher award winner for the 2023-2024 school year is Stephanie Wampler,
History and Humanities instructor. The Master Teacher award recipient demonstrates
positive interactions with students that focus on their successful development as
whole persons, creation of effective classroom environments producing motivated students,
innovative use of technology, and taking on leadership roles beyond the classroom.
Students and peers nominated Stephanie Wampler as she is well-known for creating a
welcoming and supportive classroom environment for all students. She works hard to
support students outside the classroom as well, working with them individually in
areas of learning and development. She is encouraging by nature and has been known
to help students return to the classroom after a break, offer words of encouragement
during tough times, and even supporting their personal experiences. In addition to
her teaching duties, Stephanie serves on the Executive Board of the North Carolina
Community College Advising Association and the North Carolina Association of Historians.