Wernette receives faculty award at HCTC

Amy Wernette is presented with the John Brown Outstanding Faculty award by Provost and Vice President of Academic Services Dr. R. Kathy Smoot. On right is Dr. Paul Currie, last year s recipient of the award.

Professor Amy Wernette is the 2013 recipient of the John Brown Outstanding Faculty award at Hazard Community and Technical College. Professor Wernette teaches Biology for majors and non-majors, Ecology, and Anatomy and Physiology.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Services Dr. R. Kathy Smoot presented the honor during graduation, saying This award is presented to a member of the faculty who this year best represents the ideals and values most highly regarded by the HCTC faculty. Those ideals and values include professionalism, collegiality, student orientation, dedication, positive attitude, vigor and creativity.

HCTC President Dr. Steve Greiner praised Professor Wernette for her high level of excellence and her dedication to students. Her standards help make our students successful and I applaud her commitment, Dr. Greiner said.

I love teaching biology in the supportive atmosphere of the College. It s great to work with people who care passionately about teaching, learning and helping our students to progress, noted Wernette, who began at HCTC in 1996.

Students praise the professor. Comments include: Ms. Wernette has done a great job; she is very skilled in teaching biology classes. I have learned a lot and have enjoyed having her as a biology instructor. Another wrote, She is a very strong teacher and she presents all materials in a way that I can understand and make sense of it. She has been very helpful in holding tutoring sessions for our tests every time. She is a great teacher!

Besides teaching, Wernette has been active in children s science programming through Pathfinders Kids Club. I hope to get kids excited about science and let them know that HCTC is a great place to learn.
Wernette holds a bachelor s degree from Western Michigan University and master s degree from the University of Michigan.

Her hobbies are reading, hiking, travel, restoring antiques and making Christmas ornaments.

Professor Wernette and her son, Benjamin, live in Knott County.