DANVILLE — Danville Area Community College trustees bade goodbye to a long-time employee, and welcomed its new student trustee Tuesday night.

Lori Garrett, a professor of anatomy and physiology, has helped the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa gain national honors for a number of years. She is leaving the college for a position at Parkland College, where she’ll teach anatomy and physiology and coordinate the courses.

Her last day at DACC is May 15. Garrett has worked at DACC full time for the last 15 years.

She’s leaving to be closer to her family in the Champaign-Urbana area, but she’s also leaving another family behind in Vermilion County.

“It’s home and family for me,” she said, calling the decision to leave DACC the hardest she’s had to make in her career.

“We’re very sad to see her go because she’s been such a force at DACC,” said DACC President Alice Jacobs.

Garrett has been faculty advisor to PTK for several years, and helped the local chapter, Pi Omega, retain Top 100 Chapter status. The group has been a five-star chapter since 2001.

In 2008, the chapter was named fourth runner-up to the Most Distinguished chapter, making it the fifth-highest rated chapter of the 1,250 chapters in the world.

Garrett was also honored a number of times with awards that included Distinguished Advisor and Faculty Scholar for PTK.

In addition to her numerous awards an honors for PTK, she also helped write or edit various nominations for awards the college has won, including the first place national award for Keep American Beautiful; the National Tech Prep award, three of the four William Meardy awards for national faculty of the year, the regional ICCTA Diversity Award; Jacobs’ regional CEO award; ICCA student trustee of the year award; the Lincoln Laureate award and the All USA Academic team member award.

Brittany West, who graduated from Bismarck-Henning High School in 2008, was sworn in as student trustee.

She ran unopposed in the election.

“I want to be able to be a voice for students,” she said.

The marketing major will graduate in spring 2010 and plans to attend Indiana State University.

In other business, the board:

-- Approved a bid from McDowell Builders of Sidell in the amount of $168,345 to remodel the Mary Miller Center west entrance using Protection Health and Safety funds.

-- Approved obtaining bids and approved replacing the Mary Miller Center Chiller using PHS funds. The estimated cost is $155,750. Don Walton will be architect for the project.

-- Approved a bid from CDW-G of Vernon Hills for $14,995.20 for Cisco bundle and Ethernet bundles. The technology upgrade is on the capital equipment list and is paid for through the Technology Bond.

-- Approved Clifton Gunderson LLP for auditing services for the next three years beginning June 30, with a possible two-year extension based on successful performance.

-- Approved a low bid from Shick Office Supply for new classroom furniture for $51,010.13. The furniture consists of 72 tables and 75 chairs to replace furniture than is more than 30 years old in three Clock Tower computer labs.

-- Approved the retirement of Sandra Hegg, a building services attendant, effective June 19.



WHAT’S NEXT

The Danville Area Community College Board will meet at 7 p.m. May 26 in the DACC Board Room, Vermilion Hall, Room 302.