By Dylan Bradley/ne news editor
NE Campus recently installed a wall of recognition for distinguished alumni and students in the J. Ardis Bell Library.
The site includes two plaques, one for distinguished alumni and the other for recognized students, along with a monitor displaying pictures and information.
“We recognize eight to 10 outstanding alumni each year,” NE Campus president Larry Darlage said. “Probably the most famous one is Wendy Davis (candidate for governor).”
NE graphic services coordinator Evelyne Binz earned a spot on the alumni wall in 2009 and is now working on the pictures and biographies that will be displayed on the monitor.
“It feels different than just having a certificate on your wall at home,” she said. “It’s nice.”
Three students are recognized each year in addition to the alumni. Faculty nominate students from each department, then vote to choose an overall divisional winner.
“One of my best friends is on there, and she didn’t know it until I told her,” said library specialist David Welty.
He also said he was surprised that singer/songwriter Norah Jones didn’t make it on the alumni wall.
For alumni to qualify for consideration, they must complete an associate degree or certificate, complete the core classes or have taken 45 hours at the NE Campus, Darlage said. These qualifications must be completed no earlier than five years ago and they have to be recommended by a faculty member.
Because Jones did not meet any of these qualifications, she is not on the plaque, Darlage said.
The recognized students come from three divisions: science/technology, humanities and business/social sciences.
“Faculty nominate students from their departments to receive recognition, then the department chairs in each division decide who the overall outstanding student is for the division,” he said.
The “wall of fame” is one of the things NE Campus is implementing as part of the Achieving the Dream project, Darlage said.
“This year, we became a leader college, which is kind of an upper echelon of Achieving the Dream,” he said. “It’s a way for students to get the feeling that they can succeed.”
