FSC&TC Faculty Members Honored

Three Fairmont State Community & Technical College faculty members were honored at the recent Academic Awards Banquet.

All of these awards are made possible through gifts made in support of faculty development to the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc.

Thomas A. Stose, Associate Professor of Aviation Technology, has been named the recipient of the fifth annual Paul E. Edwards Award for Teaching Excellence. Adjunct faculty member Peggy A. Vitarelli received the Rousseau-Wolfe Award for Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year. Dr. Gerald "Jerry" Bacza, Chair, School of Business, Aviation and Technology and Coordinator and Professor of Drafting & Design, was presented with the Excellence in Academic Advising Award.

Each year the Faculty Development Committee recognizes an FSC&TC faculty member who devotes an inordinate amount of time and energy to both professional and student development by bestowing the Paul E. Edwards Award for Teaching Excellence, which is named in honor of Dr. Paul E. Edwards, former Provost of FSC&TC.

Thomas A. Stose has served as an FSC&TC faculty member since 1996. Raised in Ohio, Stose received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Sciences from Ohio State University. He received a Master of Science degree in Industrial Science from Colorado State University. He earned his pilot's license while at Ohio State and, also as an undergraduate, was inducted into the Epsilon Phi Tau honorary fraternity. As a graduate student, Stose was inducted into the honorary educational fraternity Phi Delta Kappa. He has worked in general aviation in both the fixed and rotary wing areas. He has a background working on all types of aircraft and has been trained in transport category aircraft and has had hangar floor experience on heavy aircraft.

In his position at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center, Stose teaches courses in both the two-year and four-year degree programs in technology and administration. At the NAEC, he has served on the following committees: Accreditation, Aircraft Acquisition, Curriculum, Facilities and Special Projects. He has also served on the following Fairmont State committees: Faculty Selection (Graphic Arts), Committee on Committees, Faculty Welfare and Curriculum. Special duties he has assumed at Fairmont State include Alpha Eta Rho advisor, aviation industry field trip advisor, Science Fair judge, Federal Aviation Administration Inspection Authorization presenter, NAEC open house facilitator and GEAR-UP and Young Eagle Introduction to Flight participant.

Stose has been active for many years with the Aviation Technician Education Council's Board of Directors. He has served on most of its major committees and has helped facilitate the ATEC National Conference for many years. He currently chairs the Instructional Materials Committee and Government Relations Committee. Stose holds a Private Pilot's License and Airframe and Powerplant license and works with the FAA as an Aviation Safety Counselor.

Adjunct faculty members help to deliver higher education both on campus and throughout the college's 13-county service area. They hold academic credentials comparable to full-time faculty, plus they bring the benefits of on-going work experience in the areas in which they teach. Peggy A. Vitarelli exemplifies the adjunct faculty member at FSC&TC. The Rousseau-Wolfe Adjunct Faculty Award is named in honor of Roger Rousseau and Marilyn Wolfe, two very dedicated former FSC&TC employees.

She has worked as a professional counselor in public schools, mental health facilities and in domestic violence centers. She is a member of numerous local boards, clubs and organizations that focus on mental health, and she is active in professional organizations. She holds an A.A. in Psychology from FSC&TC, a B.S. in Psychology from FSU, an M.A. in Guidance and Counseling from West Virginia University and 29 post graduate hours in Psychology and Education. She has been an adjunct faculty member at FSC&TC for a number of years.

The Excellence in Academic Advising Award is presented to honor demonstrated excellence and commitment exhibited by academic advisors and to highlight the important role each plays in the education, personal development and success of their advisees. The Academic Advising Council solicited nominations to be received, and awards given, to honor excellence in academic advising for FSC&TC.

Dr. Gerald Bacza began his career with Fairmont State in 1981. In addition to his administrative, teaching and advising roles, he continues to serve on the Industrial Advisory Committee, Athletic Committee, Facilities and Equipment Committee and Academic Computing Committee. He also has an impressive resume of consulting and training experiences within business and industry throughout his career.

Bacza received a bachelor's degree from California State College and a master's degree and doctorate from WVU. He taught at Central Michigan University for two years before coming to Fairmont State in 1981. He teaches drafting and design.