National Recognition Awarded to Student and Mentor from Rockland Community College

Rockland Community College student, Christopher Raetz, and faculty member, Amanda Feeney, have been named winners of the 2023 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Student Essay Contest. Christopher's essay titled "Amanda Feeney's Mentorship on My Personal and Professional Growth" was chosen as one of the top three essays out of more than 140 outstanding contest entries nationwide.

Raetz is a non-traditional student who recently completed his Graphic Design Associate’s degree at Rockland Community College. After spending 16 years in the restaurant industry, Raetz decided to follow his dream of becoming a graphic artist and applied to RCC. Since then, he has joined the Street Team, a student-led marketing group, and has been responsible for several projects across campus. Largely due to this mentorship, Raetz will be transferring to SUNY Purchase, a distinguished liberal arts school, in the fall of 2023 to major in Graphic Design and minor in Arts Management.

"I am honored as a graphic design student to have been awarded the NISOD Excellence Award. When I saw what the theme of the essay was, I knew I had to articulate how much I have grown from the mentorship I received from Professor Amanda Feeney. She opened doors to large scale projects, gave me creative freedom, and believed in and trusted me, which motivates me every day," said Raetz.

Amanda Feeney is an employee at Rockland Community College who manages the Street Team and teaches Digital Art. She has been instrumental in guiding and mentoring Raetz throughout his academic journey. Raetz’s winning essay highlights Feeney's positive impact on his personal and professional growth. The most notable being her encouragement to develop his talent and skills in Graphic design, providing him with scholarship and grant opportunities that allowed him to continue his schooling, and inspiring him to mentor other students.

As winners of the NISOD Student Essay Contest, Raetz and Feeney each received $1,000 and a trip to the International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence in Austin, Texas in May.

"We are thrilled to see Christopher and Amanda recognized nationally for their outstanding collaboration," said Dr. Susan Deer, Officer in Charge at RCC. "This is a testament to the talent and dedication of our students and faculty, and we are proud to have them represent our College at the conference."

About NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development)

NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) provides budget-friendly, high-quality, and faculty-focused programs and resources for community and technical colleges that want to make the most of their professional development dollars. For over 40 years, NISOD has helped align its wide array of benefits with the needs of its members.

About RCC Street Team

The Street Team is a part-time employment and learning opportunity in the Strategic Marketing Department for up to ten, full-time students interested in furthering their careers in photography, writing, videography, graphic design, web design or communications. The Team works collaboratively on projects, including market research, guerrilla marketing, advertising, analytics and social media marketing.

About Rockland Community College, State University of New York

Rockland Community College (RCC), located in Suffern New York, provides purpose driven educational opportunities in a supportive, affordable, and accessible environment, empowering individuals to positively transform themselves and their communities. RCC welcomes students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Many graduates go on to top universities to further their education on their own or through RCCs institutional collaborations. RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through a variety of programs and educational opportunities including workforce training, certifications, and microcredentials. Many of the programs are developed with employers in the community in high demand industry areas to enable graduates to move into a new career upon graduation. More information can be found at sunyrockland.edu.