Sterling Silver Award
Amy Page
Director
Cardinal Learning Commons and Testing Center
Employee of the Month
“There is truly no one I can think of more deserving of the Sterling Silver Award than Amy Page. Amy is a ROCKSTAR who leads with vision and inspires all of us around her to ask questions, think bigger, dream, and ensure we're focused on success for every student. Have you been to the Cardinal Learning Commons? You haven't? You are missing out. The team in the CLC is constantly welcoming students and working to support learning. Amy has collaborated across campus to bring people together to have a meaningful conversation around student learning and support, remedial education and first year experience -- all with her trademark Southern accent! She truly embodies the best about NIC.”
- Chris Martin, Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs - Office of Finance and Business
“Amy became the Director of the Cardinal Learning Commons (then College Skills Center) and Testing Center in July 2017. NIC was in the beginning of the Integrated Planning and Space Utilization process and many changes were happening all at once. This required her to hit the ground running... which she did very well!
From the very start, Amy encouraged teamwork, cooperation, and collaboration not only among her faculty and staff but also faculty and staff across campus. Amy is on several committees, including Strategic Enrollment Management, that relate to student retention and completion. She has developed relationships with faculty and staff in all areas across campus while working on developing and enhancing services for student success. Amy demonstrates a strong work ethic, enthusiasm, and the ability to resolve challenges.
She has enthusiastically accomplished many positive changes at NIC in a short amount of time and has led the Cardinal Learning Commons in becoming a vibrant, vital part of NIC. Thank you, Amy!”
- Dalona Lee, Senior Administrative Assistant - Cardinal Learning Commons
“Amy Page, director of the Cardinal Learning Commons, has made an immediate impact on the students and employees of NIC. Her other-centered approach is evident to all. Amy has high expectations of herself and strives to improve any aspect of NIC that she can. This is evident through the transformation of the College Skills Center into the Cardinal Learning Commons in the short time Amy has been here. Tutoring is now endless for all students and the quality is second to none. Amy’s vision led to the opening of the Math Education Center in the CLC. Amy also contributed to the creation of the CLC 101 and 102 courses which promote academic success and personal development of all students. A high priority for Amy is to make sure those under her leadership have what they need to function in their roles to the best of their potential. Amy does not hesitate to let the faculty and staff in the CLC know how much she appreciates and values them. She focuses on our strengths by giving us leadership opportunities in those areas and encourages us to improve our weakness in a supportive way. Amy works diligently on committees which impact other areas on campus outside the CLC. She shares her knowledge and experience with others in order to help them grow in whatever way needed. Others have found her to be a valuable and critical part of their team. Anyone who has worked with Amy has experienced her energetic enthusiasm and spunk, which seems endless. Amy’s sense of humor, growth mindset, and positive vision for the future are contagious. Amy views situations from several perspectives and considers them before making decisions. Amy embraces design thinking. She understands that modifying an existing prototype is simply a step in the process of creating something of high quality. Amy definitely does not back down when facing a challenge. Her desire to serve our students to the best of her ability combined with her intense inner drive is something I appreciate, respect, and admire in Amy.
Amy takes pride in her work, is goal and deadline driven, and will push herself mentally and physically to accomplish what needs to get done. She is dependable and trustworthy. If Amy says she will do something, it will get done and at a higher level than anticipated. I appreciate that Amy is an excellent mentor for me. I value her knowledge, experience and advice.”
- Carey Carlson, Assistant Professor - Cardinal Learning Commons
“Amy has worked tirelessly to build the new Cardinal Learning Commons into one of NIC’s exemplary departments. She has assembled a staff who all share in her “students first” vision. From collaborating with faculty on CLC courses to the expansion of the new tutoring program, Amy shows her dedication to NIC’s Mission statement as she constantly looks for ways to improve our students’ experiences. One look at her schedule, which includes membership on numerous committees, and you see that Amy puts her heart and soul into her work. Since the Silver Sterling Award is supposed to be bestowed on employees who “demonstrate exceptional performance and give more to the college community than is normally expected,” it is only fitting that Amy’s efforts be recognized.”
- Leonard Lambert, Academic Support Coordinator - Cardinal Learning Commons
“Amy Page was instrumental in starting up the Math Education Center (MEC) where students receive support improving their math skills, preparing to take their math placement assessment, and preparing to succeed in their current, or next math course. Amy continues to contribute her management and creative skills to help plan math support opportunities for students. Most notable, was the creation of the ALEKS Math Placement brochure, which is used by staff and faculty across campus to help students understand and navigate the Math Placement Assessment process at NIC. Amy always makes herself available to staff and provides timely and thoughtful feedback on new ideas to continue to build our capacity to communicate with and serve our students. Amy deserves the Sterling Silver Award as special recognition for envisioning and integrating the Math Education Center as an important pillar in supporting student success, along with tutoring and other academic support services offered by the Cardinal Learning Commons.”
- Virginia Mesenbrink, Math Education Center Coordinator - Cardinal Learning Commons
“We are so blessed to have Dr. Amy Page as a leader in the Cardinal Learning Commons. Amy’s fun and lively personality bring such joy to the work environment. She inspires others to do their very best while she models the same. She is one of the most positive people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She is honest and transparent and develops a sense of trust in those she leads. She is a true advocate for CLC. Her staff knows, without a doubt, that she is representing CLC students and staff in a positive manner. Amy’s work ethic is unparalleled. She is not afraid of change and challenges. She jumps in with both feet, ready to communicate, collaborate, and troubleshoot until resolutions and improvements are complete. She is constantly researching, networking, and attending meetings with a focus on service to NIC and its constituents. She is one dedicated individual! Amy has a vision for the future and thinks outside the box to find creative solutions. It has become abundantly clear that we chose the right individual to lead the Cardinal Learning Commons two and a half years ago. She performs division chair duties, runs a testing center, tutoring center, and math education center in an extremely efficient manner. We can always rely on Amy to make informed decisions in alignment with the mission of NIC, as well as state and national initiatives. It took Amy very little time to learn about and immerse herself into the NIC environment. Amy has been the driving force in the move of the testing center to its current location in Molstead, the hiring of five full time employees, the complete overhaul and remodel of the College Skills Center, the introduction of a new Math Education Center, assisting with the development of a new remedial math program and two new CLC first year experience courses, and facilitating/supporting a new style of tutoring at NIC. She continues to develop new curriculum, network with people across campus, and serves on as many as eight committees during a semester. In a short time, she has measurably changed and positively impacted not only CLC, but North Idaho College as a whole. Amy is a valued team member with her hard-to-find combination of math, teaching, education, experience, communication, research, budgeting skills, work ethic, and positive disposition. For these reasons (and many more), I believe Amy is the ideal choice for the Sterling Silver Award. She is truly a GEM!”
- Tammy Payton, Associate Professor of Mathematics - Cardinal Learning Commons - Math Instructor - Math, Computer Science and Engineering Division
