Sheridan College faculty and staff gathered to honor the 2024-25 Excellence Awards winners. Each year, these awards recognize exceptional contributions from students, classified and administrative staff, and faculty members, each of whom are nominated by their peers and whose efforts overwhelmingly support the goals and mission of Sheridan College.
This year’s award recipients include Dr. Rachel Kristiansen, faculty of the year; Rachell Cozad, classified employee of the year; James Lollar, administrative employee of the year; Eva Harlan, adjunct faculty of the year; and Brand Terrell, student of the year.
Dr. Rachel Kristiansen, recognized as Faculty of the Year, has been an instructor of psychology at Sheridan College for 13 years. She is highly regarded throughout the college and was nominated for her successful efforts in the classroom, a sentiment echoed by her students. Additionally, Kristiansen was also recognized for her leadership in program mapping, which has led to notable improvements at the institution. Through her initiative in researching and implementing program-mapping software, as well as training faculty and staff, she has made a lasting impact on Sheridan College and demonstrated her commitment to its future success.Rachell Cozad, affectionately known by her peers as Rae, was honored as Classified Employee of the Year. She has been a part of Sheridan College for the past 10 years and is well known for her dedication, hard work, and dependability to the institution. As the college’s Facilities Coordinator, Cozad was recognized for her exceptional ability to manage and organize the fleet of vehicles, maintenance work orders, and internal events. Her contributions also include creating a campus-wide preventative maintenance schedule and recently assuming responsibility for the mailroom operations, as well as supervising student employees.
With 21 years of service at Sheridan College, Assistant Facilities Director James Lollar received the Administrative Employee of the Year award. A nominating staff member highlighted his “unwavering dedication and ability to go above and beyond in his duties,” which set him apart within the organization. His commitment and strong work ethic have not only inspired his colleagues but also contributed significantly to the college’s operations.
Eva Harlan was recognized as Adjunct Faculty of the year for her excellence in – and out of – the classroom, teaching biology at the college for the last two years. Fellow faculty members noted that she continuously seeks to improve her teaching methods and actively participates in training to enhance student success. Harlan’s dedication to her students has been demonstrated throughout her time at Sheridan College and highlights her commitment to educational excellence.
SC Agriculture Business student, Brand Terrell, was honored as Student of the Year. His peers and faculty nominated him to recognize the strong commitment he has demonstrated to both his personal success, as well as the success of his peers at Sheridan College. Some of his leadership roles at the college include FFA state officer, Agbassador, and Sheridan College Foundation Student Partner. Additionally, Terrell mentors new students and supports fellow students in preparing for national competitions. As a colleague said, “(Terrell’s) love for Sheridan College is evident in all his endeavors.”
