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Outstanding faculty members, alumni and community members were recently acknowledged at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University at Tuscarawas. During the Spring Awards Ceremony, two professors were acknowledged for their teaching excellence. Dr. Amanda Hayes received the 2017-2018 Full-Time Distinguished Teaching Award and Dr. Frank Scalambrino received the 2017-2018 Part-Time Distinguished Teaching Award. They were recognized for their enthusiasm and commitment to their profession, for possessing a comprehensive knowledge of their subject matter, for stimulating interest and understanding, and for effective organization and resourcefulness. The Distinguished Teaching Awards are the most prestigious awards the campus presents to faculty members.

Dr. Hayes is an assistant professor of English, whose work focuses on Appalachian rhetoric and literacy. She earned her doctorate at Ohio University, and is in her second year as a faculty member at Kent State Tuscarawas. She has taught several courses, including introductory and advanced college writing, as well as medieval literature. Her first book, The Politics of Appalachian Rhetoric, is forthcoming from West Virginia University Press in the fall of 2018.

Dr. Scalambrino is an adjunct faculty member in the philosophy department. He earned his doctorate in philosophy at Duquesne University. He is an award-winning author and inductee into the international counseling honor society Chi Sigma Iota. His most recent book, Philosophical Principles of the History and Systems of Psychology: Essential Distinctions, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in March 2018.

During the May 11 Commencement Ceremony, the campus recognized two community members for their accomplishments. Scott Robinson, who served as the commencement speaker, received the 2017-2018 Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Tuscarawas Community Service Award. This recognition is given to valued members of the community who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Tuscarawas.

Mr. Robinson just completed his seventh year as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce, whose mission is the formation of strategic partnerships to advance the economic, educational, civic and cultural prosperity of Tuscarawas County. Robinson also serves as the Executive Director for the Tuscarawas County Community Foundation.

For nearly 15 years, he served as President and CEO of the United Way of Tuscarawas County, where he guided the organization’s efforts and raised nearly $9 million for local health and human service organizations. Mr. Robinson also spent 12 years as a news and sports reporter for WJER in Dover, where he earned many Ohio Associated Press awards.

Michael Ernest received the 2017-2018 Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Tuscarawas Distinguished Alumni Award. This honor recognizes the professional and community accomplishments of alumni from Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Tuscarawas and is the highest acknowledgement bestowed on a Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Tuscarawas graduate. Mr. Ernest attended Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Tuscarawas from the fall of 1989 through the spring of 1991 before completing his Bachelor of Science Degree from Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1993. His history with the campus dates back to his great-grandfather, Walter Ritter, who was the first chairman of the Academic Center Advisory Board, the precursor to Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Tuscarawas.

Obtaining his law degree from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1996, Mr. Ernest has worked as an assistant prosecutor in the city of New Philadelphia Prosecutor’s Office, the Tuscarawas County Prosecutor’s Office and in the law office of Johnson, Urban and Range LLC. Along with working as a lawyer, he has been an adjunct instructor at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Tuscarawas since 2004 and is the owner of the Quaker Cinema in New Philadelphia.

Among his various volunteer positions, Mr. Ernest is the president of the New Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Board, Tuscora Park Foundation and New Philadelphia Heritage Fund. He also serves as a member of the Tuscarawas County Public Library Board, Tuscarawas County Law Library Resources Board, and Tuscarawas Philharmonic Board and is a founding member of the Tuscarawas Valley Film Festival.

Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Tuscarawas is located at 300 University Dr. NE in New Philadelphia.