UC Blue Ash Honors 2014 Distinguished Award Winners

The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is announcing the winners of the 2014 Distinguished Awards, which recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of alumni, faculty, and staff from the college.

The annual UC Blue Ash College Distinguished Awards ceremony was held on April 10 at the Cooper Creek Event Center in Blue Ash. The event also included a silent auction that raised more than $3,000 for the UC Blue Ash Alumni Association Student Scholarship Fund.

2014 UC Blue Ash College Distinguished Alumni

Deborah Metz – Class of 1974

Deborah Metz is an established expert in water quality and wastewater treatment. She has spent most of her career with the Greater Cincinnati Water Works where she serves as the Superintendent of Water Quality and Treatment.

Tamara Miles – Class of 1997

Tamara Miles was a single mother with a dream when she began taking business classes at UC Blue Ash. Today, she is an experienced and award-winning Senior Contracting Officer for the U.S. Department of Energy in Cincinnati.

Yife Tien – Class of 1975

Yife (E-fay) Tien is a successful entrepreneur and a leader in the field of medical education. He served as CEO of the American University of the Caribbean and recently founded Rocky Vista University, an osteopathic medicine college based in Colorado.

2014 UC Blue Ash College Distinguished Faculty

Outstanding Faculty Service Award – Professor John McNay

John McNay is a published author and respected leader in his field who serves on multiple committees, has represented the college on the UC Faculty Senate and has created and led numerous study abroad programs.

Exemplary Scholarship Award – Professor Tracy Herrmann

Professor Tracy Herrmann is an expert in radiation science, radiobiology, and radiation protection. She helps lead the national Image Gently campaign that is increasing awareness about ways to reduce the risk of exposing children to too much radiation during x-rays or CT scans.

Innovative Teaching Award – Professor Rita Kumar

Rita Kumar is an expert in Problem-Based Learning (PBL), which uses concepts to help students solve problems as they are presented. She has led training with faculty to help implement the teaching approach across disciplines.

Distinguished Teaching Award – Professor Diana Becket

One of the specialties of Diana Becket is working with students placed in lower–level composition courses. She provides creative ways to help her students relate their stories to personal experiences and encourages them as writers.

Honored Adjunct Teaching Award – Professor Laurie Bailar

Whether teaching composition courses or working as a tutor in the UC Blue Ash Writing Center, Laurie Bailar has a reputation for implementing highly effective lesson plans and for getting to know each student by name.

2014 UC Blue Ash College Distinguished Staff

Staff Distinguished Service Award – Kelly Vearil

Kelly Vearil is the expert on veterinary dentistry in the Veterinary Technology program. She continually strives to advance her knowledge of this specialty and routinely volunteers to supervise students on off-campus community service activities.

Rising Star Service Award – Sarah Meagher

As the Assistant Director for Orientation and Leadership Sarah Meagher has implemented every aspect of the new freshman orientation program. She also manages the UC Blue Ash Student Ambassador and Orientation Leader programs.

UC Blue Ash College is a regional college within the University of Cincinnati. It offers one of the best values in higher education with access to a nationally recognized UC education in nearly 50 degrees and certificates, as well as tuition that is about half of most colleges and universities. The college is located on a scenic 135-acre wooded campus in the heart of Blue Ash, Ohio. To learn more, call (513) 745-5600, visit us online at www.ucblueash.edu, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.