By Western Nebraska Community College
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. - The Nebraska Community College Association hosted its annual awards ceremony in Lincoln in November, and two WNCC employees and an alum were recognized.
Jodi Ruzicka was honored as the NCCA Distinguished Alumni from WNCC. A lifelong resident of the Scottsbluff-Gering area, Ruzicka graduated from WNCC in 1995, while balancing a full-time career in banking, and raising a family. She currently serves as a financial advisor for the Platte Valley Investment Center, helping others financially plan for the future. Ruzicka has a passion for helping others not only in her job, but in the community. She chairs the Oregon Trail Days Planning Committee, serves on the WNCC Foundation Board, and volunteers with the Legacy of the Plains Museum.
The NCCA Faculty Member Award went to Marcene Elwell, WNCC's surgical technology instructor and program director. Elwell has been at WNCC for 8 years, and spends countless hours with her students, traveling across the state and into Colorado and Wyoming to aid in their clinicals, and proudly promotes WNCC's program at recruitment events. Her hard work, positivity, and dedication has made a lasting impact on WNCC and her students.
Pauline Newman, WNCC's accounting services director, received the NCCA Administrators/Staff Award. Her leadership creates a supportive work environment where people feel valued and empowered. Newman also serves as the accountant for the WNCC Foundation, where in the last year, helped guide the Foundation through two major transitions that increase both transparency and accountability within the Foundation.
The NCCA is comprised of five member schools: Central, Mid-Plains, Northeast, Southeast and Western Nebraska. Each year the NCCA holds its annual meeting at one of the member schools and awards Faculty, Governor, Administrator, and Friend of Community College awards, along with a Distinguished Alumni Award.