Sedalia, Missouri – May 2, 2022 – State Fair Community College celebrated a time-honored tradition in April with the announcement of the 2022 Instructor, Adjunct and Staff Member of the Year recipients. The total number of nominations submitted by students was 157, out of which 80 candidates were nominated for the three awards. A committee of six students and two staff members selected the winners.
Danielle Beumer is SFCC’s 2022 Instructor of the Year. Beumer is a Radiologic Technology instructor. She started at SFCC part-time in 2006 and became a full-time instructor in 2013. Beumer’s education includes an Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Arts from SFCC and a Bachelor’s of Health Science from Central Methodist University.
Students who nominated Beumer described her as caring, sensitive, understanding, available, engaging, hardworking, passionate, and an amazing teacher. One student wrote, “She will come up with different ways to explain things to make sure we don’t just know the concepts but that we actually understand them.” Others wrote, “she can look at our class and see that we’re struggling mentally (school and life are stressful), and she will take the time to just sit and laugh with us … she has an unmatched passion for education, medical imaging and truly wants us all to succeed.”
The other finalists for Instructor of the Year were Danielle Dace, Brad Driskill, Cendy Harrell-Carson, Dr. Kevin Lawson, Meghan McClellan, and Timothy Wells.
Dondi Ramirez is SFCC’s 2022 Adjunct of the Year. Ramirez started at SFCC in 2011 as an adjunct instructor in multiple disciplines but currently teaches sociology courses. This is the second Adjunct of the Year award he has received; the first was in 2015. In 2021, Ramirez became a full-time navigator working with students studying art, criminal justice, fire science, history, psychology and more. Ramirez earned an Associate of Arts from SFCC and a Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Arts from University of Central Missouri.
Students nominated Ramirez for his fun, engaging teaching style and for demonstrating concern and compassion for his students. One student said he always makes class fun by mixing information with anecdotes from his life or by asking students to share their stories and makes lessons relevant to students’ lives. A student who had a difficult semester shared that it was easy to talk to Ramirez and that he was eager to help the student resolve those difficulties.
The other finalists for Adjunct of the Year were Daniel Bentley and Renita DeMalade.
Maddie Stephan is SFCC’s 2022 Staff of the Year. Stephan is the assistant director of Sonography and joined SFCC in 2020. She earned her Bachelor’s of Health Science and Master’s of Health Science in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Students said Stephan’s supportive and caring personality is why they nominated her for the award. One student’s nomination summarized well what others said about Stephan. “She always supports her students and is invested in their success. She has gone out of her way so many times through Covid, and still now, to help us become successful professionals. She is kind, knowledgeable, supportive, inspiring, and approachable.”
The other Staff Member of the Year finalists were Fatima AhHee and Kristen Henning.
All honorees received plaques and their photos will be displayed in the Yeater Learning Center lobby on the Sedalia campus. They also will lead the procession of faculty and staff at commencement May 13.
