Awards and Book Deals
Brent L. Kendrick, professor of English at Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) and co-advisor of the College's Alpha Beta Omega chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) international honor society of the two-year college, received PTK's Mosal Award, which provides financial assistance to chapter advisors to complete a project that leads to professional growth. The project he is working on is titled "Celebrating 400 Years of Virginia Writers: John Smith to Lee Smith."
Farcountry Press released two nature photography books from LFCC Professors Ann and Rob Simpson in March. "Born Wild in the Smokies" features 81 color images of young wildlife taken in the Great Smoky Mountains. The second book, "Shenandoah Simply Beautiful," features 142 color photographs collected from more than 30 years of work. The book provides a visual tour of Shenandoah National Park, including images of the fall colors along Skyline Drive, delicate springtime lady slippers, the 1916 Massanutten Lodge, the Rapidan Camp that served as U.S. President Herbert Hoover's summer White House in the 1930s, a sparkling icefall at Mary's Rock Tunnel, a deer silhouetted in mist at Big Meadows and other wildlife, flora and fauna. Farcountry Press published a third book by the Simpsons, "Born Wild in Shenandoah," on July 1, 2007. The book features 81 photos taken in Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Rob Simpson is an associate professor of natural resources at LFCC, and Ann Simpson is an assistant professor of anatomy and physiology. Both also co-teach nature photography classes and organize nature photography and natural history tours around the world. In addition, the couple owns a business called Simpson's Nature Photography, which specializes in photographing difficult-to-find species.
Lord Fairfax Community College President John J. "Ski" Sygielski was elected to serve as one of six new members on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Board. The membership of the AACC represents close to 95 percent of all the nation's accredited two-year community and technical colleges. The Washington, D.C.-based AACC is the primary advocacy organization for community colleges at the national level. Sygielski's term began on July 1, 2007, and will continue through June 30, 2010. He was also honored with PTK's Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction in recognition of a strong level of administrative support for the honor society.
Dave Urso, LFCC's coordinator of student life and testing services and psychology instructor, published "The Everyday Hero's Guide to Leadership" in early 2007. Focusing on offering REAL (really easy applications to life) tips to its audience, the book helps readers understand the core foundations of leadership, review internal opportunities to reflect on leadership choices and examine the power of working with others and making great decisions for the team.