Jolena Grande Honored with "Above and Beyond" Award
Jolena Grande, Cypress College Mortuary Science Instructor, Academic Senate President, and Department Chair, was honored with the Chancellor’s Staff “Above and Beyond” Award at the May 24 Board of Trustees meeting.
The award is given out when an employee executes an act of extraordinary achievement in service to the District, and it is safe to say that Cypress College would not be participating in the Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program if it were not for her tremendous efforts and leadership. Jolena began working on the concept of a baccalaureate degree in 1995, when she was first hired as a full-time faculty member at Cypress College. An expert in her field, she took her original proposal of 68 pages, and edited it down to the approved 15-page state application requirement.
She was instrumental in persuading the NOCCCD Board of Trustees to choose Mortuary Science as the District’s selection for the statewide pilot program back in 2014, and since then has worked tirelessly to get the pilot program up and running by fall 2016. Jolena has served on the State Chancellor’s Office Baccalaureate Workgroup, and at the District on the Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Implementation Support Grant Steering Committee. All while serving as the Mortuary Science Department Chair, teaching classes, and President of the College’s Academic Senate.
When Interim Chancellor Williams introduced the award at the Board Meeting and asked Jolena to join him at the podium, her expression was priceless—shocked, humbled, and incredibly gracious. She was met with a standing ovation from the audience, and surprised by her husband, Dan, and family members.
Thank you, Jolena, for going above and beyond the call of duty, and for simply just being you!