MATC Matters

This year’s recipient for the Devi Bhargava Faculty Recognition Award is Linda Quamme, nursing instructor.

Linda was nominated by Victoria McGowan. In her letter, she stated that Linda recognized her disabilities that hindered her ability to learn and helped her overcome them developing strategies for success. Linda was patient and understanding and was always available when she needed her.

Linda even called Victoria at home, from her home, to discuss results from a test that she had failed. She was in tune to the fact that her anxiety levels would be high once she found out the test results but Linda’s phone call would set her at ease and “rebooted my confidence.â€?

When the student became very anxious before one of her tests and she took the time to be with her and arranged for another instructor to help her with learning a new technique, She went on to say that “Linda was sympathetic and continually reassured me and helped me achieve the goals I needed to pass this last semester. Linda took many hours of her personal time to help me during the semester. She is an outstanding instructor that does not just teach but truly cares. She is a BLESSING to the staff at MATC.�

The Devi Bhargava award is presented through a fund established in 1999 after the death of one of our very dear colleagues, Devi Bhargava. She had a profound commitment to people with disabilities and continued to work in the field until cancer took her from us. As a legacy of that work, her family and friends established a Memorial Fund in her name. That fund provides two awards. One goes to a graduating student with a disability who is nominated by the faculty or staff and is given out in the spring. The other is for a faculty or staff person who demonstrates special understanding and support for students with disabilities. This group is nominated by students. Congratulations, Linda!