Tri-C Annual Advisory Committees Appreciation Breakfast & Community Champions Awards

Annual Advisory Committees Appreciation Breakfast

Since 1993, Tri-C hosts an annual event to honor and celebrate the contributions of Tri-C’s Program Advisory Committees. Typically, community and staff members with professional expertise are invited to sit on the Committees, providing input to development of Tri-C Programs and ensuring students are well-positioned for success in their chosen fields. The Committees are nominated for an annual award by Tri-C Faculty and Staff who are working directly with them.

Advisory Committee past award winners

Tri-C Community Champion Awards

Each year, Tri-C honors Community Champions making a difference in the lives and career paths of Tri-C Students. Nominated by Tri-C Faculty/Staff, awards are given in three categories – Individual, Small Business (<50 employees), and Large Business (>50 employees.) Candidates are nominated via essays that detail the over-and-above efforts of the nominees and are handed out by Tri-C President Alex Johnson. This year, event guest speaker Bernie Moreno - founder of Blockland Cleveland and chairman of Ownum - joined Dr. Johnson in the presentation of awards.

• 2019 Individual Community Champion – Richard Summers – This Tri-C Dean’s List
  student is both a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the Robert L. Lewis Academy of
  Scholars for Social Justice. An active on- and off-campus volunteer, Richard was
  specifically nominated for his work with a nonprofit called “4Ward with Purpose,” an
  organization that raises money for homeless and domestic violence shelters in the
  region. Richard is helping to develop a conflict resolution training workshop to share
  with residents of shelters.
• 2019 Individual Community Champion – William Cunion, Ph.D., Tri-C and his wife Jesse
  Cunion, M.A. – In May 2018, Plain Dealer reporter Andrea Simakis wrote Gone and
  Forgotten: Where Is The Memorial For Women Murdered By Anthony Sowell - telling the
  story of his eleven victims and the lack of a permanent tribute to these women. Bill and
  his wife Jesse contacted Andrea to see how they could help. The result - the Eleven
  Angels Scholarship at the Tri-C Foundation. In Fall 2020, awards will go to 11 women
  coming to Tri-C to change their own lives.
• 2019 Small Business (<50 employees) Community Champion – Theresa Carter,
  President, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation – nominated jointly by the Rising Stars
  Academy program staff and the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation. OMNOVA
  Solutions partnered with Tri-C and the Warrensville Heights City School District to
  create Rising Stars College Readiness Academy – a summer education immersion
  program “designed to uplift college aspirations of Warrensville Heights High School
  students, many of whom would be the first in their families to attend college.” The
  Foundation is a longstanding partner of the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation,
  supporting the Access Scholarship Fund for students since 2005.
• 2019 Large Corporation (>50 employees) Community Champion – Hyland – accepted by
  Chris Hyland, Executive Vice President and CFO of Hyland, and Kelly Diamond, Hyland
  HR Program Manager – The reasons for Hyland’s nomination were multi-faceted,
  recognizing the company as “a loyal employer and employer partner that has worked
  with the Tri-C Career Center in a positive collaboration for the benefit of our students"
  Hyland serves on Tri-C's Experiential Advisory Committee – providing input and
  insights on how to prepare students for the working world. In addition, Chris Hyland
  also serves on the Tri-C Foundation Board of Directors.