Fifteen years ago, Dr. Faye Pappalardo created an achievement award that she bestows upon an outstanding graduate each year at Commencement. The President’s Academic Excellence Award honors a student with a 4.0 grade point average, who has shown extraordinary commitment to extracurricular activities, and who has been nominated for the award by the faculty. The selected student must have completed a minimum of 45 credit hours at Carroll.

Fifteen graduates have received the award starting in the year 2000, when Dr. Pappalardo conceived the special recognition. The graduates have blossomed in their educational pursuits, in their careers and in their personal lives. We reached out to them to find out….where are they now?

Erik Ferrone (Class of 2000): Erik Ferrone was the first recipient of the award from Dr. Pappalardo. “I felt extraordinarily proud to be on stage at Commencement in front of friends and family to receive the award. I was beaming because it was a shining moment I will never forget. I am so grateful to Dr. Pappalardo,” he said. Ferrone is now a manager in the Finance and Actuarial Division of TIAA-Cref, a leading financial services firm serving the retirement needs of employees in the non-profit sectors.

“Carroll is an economical way to obtain an associate degree or pave the path towards a bachelor’s degree,” said Ferrone. He transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after graduating from Carroll. “My community college experience was critical for my future success.”

Laura Gibson (Class of 2001): When Dr. Pappalardo selected Laura Gibson to be a recipient, Gibson felt incredibly privileged to be chosen. “In my schoolwork at the college, I always tried to do my very best in every subject, to hold myself to very high standards, and to learn as much as I could from my professors as a matter of my own personal ethics. I never dreamed that these efforts would be so formally recognized! I still vividly recall Dr. Pappalardo calling me into her office to explain how I was one of a select group to have achieved a 4.0 GPA and how the selection process for the award worked. It was such a thrilling moment!”

Gibson graduated with an Associate of Arts degree with concentrations in Music and Art. Today, she continues to put the musical, artistic, and computer technology concepts she learned at Carroll into daily practice. “I’ve been the owner of Floral Legacies, a floral design, fine art, graphics, and harp performance studio for over nine years in my hometown of Manchester, Maryland,”she said.

“I enjoy creating custom wedding and event floral designs and commissioned art for clients, teaching private lessons in my art and music specialties, and performing the harp for weddings, events and retirement communities throughout central Maryland, south-central Pennsylvania and at times in Washington, DC.” Gibson wanted to thank Dr. Pappalardo for taking the time to reach out and notice her. “I really appreciate the extra efforts she took on my behalf, including her appearance and introduction at one of my college award programs, the Knights of Pythias Academic Scholar Award. Dr. Pappalardo encouraged and supported my educational endeavors as well as my volunteering interests.”

Jeannine Morber (Class of 2004): After 20 years in sales, Jeannine Morber enrolled at Carroll with the intent to finish a two-year degree. She said faculty members were encouraging and helpful, and her classmates were warm and welcoming. “I became extremely motivated to press on and finish my four-year degree. Because of my grade point average at Carroll, and the President's Academic Excellence Award, I was awarded a $20,000 merit scholarship at Hood College,” said Morber. “I graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics.”

Morber recently finished her MBA with a concentration in Information Systems. “Now that I have my Master's degree, I plan to teach at a community college one day.”

Currently, Morber owns her own marketing consulting company, Morber Marketing Group. “I work with clients all over the country assisting them with marketing strategy development, implementation, integration, and automation. I also give presentations and keynote addresses on marketing technology and customer engagement at business conferences all over the world.”

Morber recalls her reaction ten years ago when she first received the news that she was getting the award from Dr. Pappalardo. “I was extremely surprised! I received a call from Dr. Pappalardo's office that she wanted to meet with me. I thought it had something to do with my grade point average, but had no idea that I was to receive the President's Academic Excellence Award.”

Dawn White (Class of 2005): Ever since she started at Carroll in fall, 2002, Dawn White was driven to achieve a 4.0 grade point average each semester and to do her very best in college. “I was thrilled to hear that in 2005 I received the award and that all my work had paid off. Even though I worked hard for my grade point average, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the news,” said White. White subsequently graduated magna cum laude from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

White is an anchor and reporter for WHAG-TV NBC25. “I work as the weekend anchor, and am the Maryland General Assembly and Frederick County reporter during the week. What I did at Carroll definitely helped me in my career. I was the co-captain of the Speech Team, took speech and communication classes, and went to Annapolis for Student Advocacy Day. I absolutely could not be where I am today without Carroll. And of course, Dr. Pappalardo is a great asset to the college. She always says hello to students in the hallways and is very accessible to everyone on the campus.”



Dawn White

Mary Jo Piarote (Class of 2007): While at Carroll Community College, Mary Jo Piarote pursued a degree in Elementary Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching. She continued her studies to complete a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University) and graduated in 2009. She is currently employed by Baltimore County Public Schools as an Elementary Technology Integration Teacher.

“I was a non-traditional student. I was 47 when I enrolled at Carroll,” she said. “I had many doubts as to whether I could be successful at college and teaching. I would most like to thank Dr. Pappalardo for believing in my potential. To be recognized by her boosted my confidence and inspired me to continue on for my bachelor’s degree. I also feel that the entire community should be grateful for her commitment to the college. She made Carroll Community College a force to be taken seriously. Her dedication not only inspired students to attend but community members to support the college. I have never had anything but praise for this institution.”



Mary Jo Piarote

John Biondo, Jr. (Class of 2009): Looking back on his Commencement day, John Biondo remembers how extremely honored he was to shake hands with Dr. Pappalardo on stage as her award recipient.

Biondo is grateful to Dr. Pappalardo and to the fine instructors at Carroll. “I believe that Carroll was a big part of helping me to get to where I am today. Through great faculty and teachers, Carroll helped me to understand what profession I wanted to enter and how I would get there. I graduated with a general business degree from Carroll, knowing that I wanted to go into Accounting.”

Biondo now holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Stevenson University. Last year, he received his C.P.A. license. He now works for a public accounting firm in Sparks, MD.

Rachael Mason (Class of 2010): When Rachael Mason attended Carroll, she dreamed of becoming a nurse. Right after she graduated, she started working in the profession. Currently, she works as an R.N. for St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. She works in the Cancer Institute, an outpatient center, and provides care to a variety of patients, including administering chemotherapy and biotherapies. In addition, she is enrolled in an online, RN-to- BSN program through Frostburg State University.

“Carroll helped me to become a nurse and provided me with an excellent foundation on which to build a nursing career,” said Mason.

“I was completely surprised at my nomination and selection for the award. I was very happy, as well, since I had worked so hard on my studies in the Nursing program. The program was very challenging, especially with family responsibilities to balance, and the award made me feel that all of the time and hard work was worth the effort.”

Tatiana Bradshaw (Class of 2010): In 2010, in addition to Mason, a second student, Tatiana Bradshaw, was chosen as an award recipient. This was the first time the President gave two students the award at Commencement, saying she couldn’t choose between “two most-deserving students.”

“When I received the President's Academic Excellence Award, I was extremely surprised,” said Bradshaw. “I absolutely was not expecting it. When Dr. Pappalardo told me that she selected me, I was extremely happy and thankful.”

Bradshaw said she believes that Carroll helped her in many ways. “The Hill Scholars Honors Program helped me by challenging me academically and making me more organized. The Office of Student Life helped me by providing the opportunity to become involved in student leadership through the Leadership Challenge Program and the Campus Activities Board. The Theatre Department helped me to express myself. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have attended this school and to have received this award.”

Currently, Bradshaw is a manager at Kohl's where she works as the Customer Service Area Supervisor.

Benjamin Spurrier (Class of 2011): Benjamin Spurrier graduated from Carroll in 2011, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Maryland in 2013.

“Studying and becoming involved at Carroll has helped me in so many ways,” said Spurrier. “It helped me to learn and explore new things, find direction with my studies, and learn many things about myself.”

Spurrier considers the award to be “a great honor from a great leader.”

John Jayman (Class of 2013): John Jayman believes that receiving the award was an experience he will always remember.

Jayman credits Carroll for much of the success he has realized after he graduated. “The instructors took a personal interest in their students’ work. It was their hands-on approach to teaching that gave me a strong foundation for pursuing my bachelor’s degree. They provided guidance and learning opportunities that allowed me to explore my strengths, which ultimately led to my decision to become a pharmacist. In addition, Carroll provided me with the necessary skills and tools that have helped me succeed in my current studies,” he said.

He is currently in his junior year at UMBC and majors in Biology and Pre-Pharmacy. The 2013 award recipient also takes upper-level science courses with other students competing for professional schools.

Dr. Pappalardo will announce the 2014 recipient of the President’s Academic Excellence Award at this year’s Commencement at McDaniel College on May 28, 2014.

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