Parker Family To Fund College's New Presidential Excellence Awards

Limestone College will soon begin to recognize faculty and staff members who are going above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service and quality impressions in the classroom.

Dr. Darrell Parker and his wife, Kathy, have announced that they are endowing the new Presidential Excellence Awards Program soon to be implemented at Limestone College.

Through a $25,000 contribution by the Parkers to an endowed fund, the Presidential Excellence Awards Program will provide two annual $500 cash prizes to faculty and staff members who exhibit exceptional customer service and superb high impact practices in the classroom. Until the endowed fund grows to support the yearly gifts, the Parkers are providing the cash prizes through a restricted annual fund.

“We want Limestone College to be well-known for its excellent customer service and high impact practices in the classroom,” explained Dr. Parker, who became Limestone’s 22nd President this past January. “Because of that, we need to regularly recognize and celebrate the best examples.”

A selection committee will be appointed to accept applications and nominations in each of the two categories, with the winner in each group receiving a $500 cash prize.

The Customer Service Award will be granted to a staff member who has contributed to the enhancement of quality customer service and satisfaction at the College. “We are delighted to send positive messages to our staff and generate a strong system-wide commitment to customer service excellence,” Dr. Parker said.

The Classroom High Impact Practices Award will be given to the faculty member who has implemented teaching and learning process improvements or initiatives over the past year that significantly increased effectiveness and efficiency in the classroom. “Our goal is to advance the quality and practice of teaching and learning in our classrooms,” Dr. Parker said. “This award will recognize those innovative practices that enhance student learning and foster academic success of Limestone students.”