OTC announces the 2022 Excellence in Education award winners

Ozarks Technical Community College trustees and administrators honored the 2022 Excellence in Education Award recipients at the November Board of Trustees meeting. Candidates were nominated by staff members and selected by a college-wide committee. Each winner was presented with a plaque and monetary award, made possible by a donation from the Turner Family Foundation.  

Full-Time Faculty Award: Jason Rader

An OTC alumnus, Jason has been teaching diesel technology courses at the college for seven years. He teaches classes with names like heavy-duty truck brakes and steering and suspension. Jason spent 15 years in the diesel technology industry where he accumulated multiple certifications, and now he’s glad he can use his knowledge and experience to help new technicians find their way into the career.

Adjunct Instructor Award: Misty Tollett

Misty has been with the college for eight years in research and strategic planning, and she’s taught business classes for the past six. A Texas native, Misty came to the Ozarks to attend Evangel University where she studied biology and chemistry as an undergrad but turned to organizational leadership for her graduate degree. Misty’s passion is helping students who couldn’t attend college if it weren’t for OTC.

Full-Time Staff Award: Denise Douglass

Denise worked in the business side of healthcare for more than three decades, which allowed her to work from home and raise her children. A few years ago, Denise accepted a part-time job at the Lebanon center that led to her current full-time position as an admission counselor. Denise is thankful to work at an institution making a positive impact on people’s lives.

Part-Time Staff Award: Crystal Adams

Crystal is the scheduling supervisor in the Speckman Tutoring and Learning Center. She began working in the tutoring center as a receptionist and was later recruited to be a tutor. Now, she combines her love of data and puzzles to manage the appointments for all of the tutors. Before coming to OTC, Crystal worked as an assembler and welder at Polar Tank – building tanker trucks. Now, she builds schedules to benefit OTC students.

Administration Award: Sarah Bargo

The Director of Communications and Marketing, Sarah has been with the college since 2014, holding positions in communications and marketing and the OTC Foundation before taking the director’s job a few years ago. Sarah is in charge of the college’s advertising and social media, and she organizes major college events like commencement, the Innovation Celebration and the PMC’s grand opening. Sarah left a private sector career to work at OTC because she wanted to make a difference.

*Photo Caption: Sarah Bargo, Jason Rader, Crystal Adams, Misty Tollett, Denise Douglass