Each year, an Innovation of the Year award is given to a member of Sinclair Community College that demonstrates originality in something they do.
This marks 24 years that Sinclair has been involved with the League of Innovation.
“[Those who win the award] get it for innovative programs or activities,” Amanda Romero, chair of the Innovative Committee and Design professor said. “It can be student based or work-force development based, it all has to meet the criteria.”
The Innovation of the Year awards has been around since 1989.
Sinclair employees, faculty, administrators, professionals and staff can be nominated for the award.
“All they need to do to be nominated is submit an application,” Romero said. “There are five main criteria that they need to speak to and a committee is formed to review those applications and to make recommendations to the League Representative, Lori Zakel.”
According to Romero, what you submit must be timely, (more than two years old, but less that five years old) creative, of quality, have efficiency and effectiveness and must be able to be replicated.
“The award showcases and gives kudos to the faculty, staff, whoever the recipient is, to the works that they are doing on campus,” Romero said. “A great many of them in years past have really been student centered. It’s really about enhancing the student’s learning and ensuring that graduation is the next step.”
The 2012 Innovation of the Year Award went to Shaun Huang, associate professor of Physics, Marigrace Ryan, Biology professor and Vandana Rola, manager of Web Course Development for the Pioneering Online Science Lab.
“You can even nominate yourself,” Romero said. “Each year is something different.”
However the deadlines for nominations have already passed.
For more information, visit Sinclair.edu/about/awards or email Romero at Amanda.romero@sinclair.edu.