Sterling Silver Award
Mike McGinnis
Lab Technician - Aerospace
Employee of the Month
"Mike is invaluable to what we do here at NIC Aerospace; truly irreplaceable in fact. His actual job description pales in comparison to all he actually does here. He is self-motivated and digs into his multi-faceted role here as lab technician, building custodian, and very experienced fabricator. He has really rolled with the punches and made this place work. His ability to fabricate with wood, composites and metal have all come into play and brought us thousands of dollars in value creating training assets we couldn't have otherwise afforded. His ever-present smile and dedication to NIC Aerospace inspires staff and students alike. He's always the first in, gets the coffee on, cleans, gets the tools and lab prepped, and then steps in with students wherever needed. He's also the on-call solution to snow removal at this small NIC location. A life-long North Idahoan, he's an institution unto himself. Students learn what work ethic means in truest form. Heck, the guy brought in a scooter because walking was "just too slow" getting around the place. Mike far exceeds expectations and is truly deserving of the NIC’s Sterling Silver employee award."
Patrick O'Halloran – Aerospace Director – Aerospace
"Mike has been fantastic in the on-campus experience of prospective students. Mike accommodates large groups of students at the Aerospace Center for Excellence and shares his passion of aviation with curious minds. Mike has also made numerous visits into the community on behalf of NIC to share about the outstanding work of our Aerospace program. Thank you for helping us share the great work NIC does."
Teresa Borrenpohl – Enrollment Service Center Manager - Enrollment Services
"Mike is a high energy guy who serves us all in the aerospace dept. His list of tasks is endless. Always has a smile on his face. It is an encouragement just to be around this guy!"
Daniel Clark – Instructor - Advanced Manufacturing/CNC Mill – Aerospace
"Mike is very special to our Aerospace family and deserves tons of credit for the launch of the program and its success. He joined NIC as a tool room tech/lab aid but that only describes half of what Mike does to support the Aerospace students, faculty and staff at the center. Mike is the "go to" person with the “can do” attitude. If we lacked a training device, he built it. If we needed a new way to store something, teach something or display something - Mike build it. If it is broken, needs cleaning, sprucing up, landscaped, or removed - at 4 am or 10 pm... Mike takes care of it. He is simply amazing!
When the aerospace program was trying to launch, we needed extra help from facilities and Mike was the person who, once again, stepped up to help. What I appreciate most about Mike is his passion for students and their success in the aerospace industry. You can tell he loves what he does because of the huge smile he maintains all day long.
Mike volunteers to help students with their homework and labs. He has also stepped up and taught for us upon the unexpected departure of a faculty member. He spends hours assisting students to better understand their labs by adding his industry experience as a teaching aid. Mike is currently in high demand in the field and has lent a hand to the WFTC by teaching a few classes. We are the fortunate ones. Mike is one of our NIC Aerospace family members and we are thankful to him for all he does to make NIC great!"
Kassie Silvas – Dean of Career, Technical and Workforce Education - Career and Technical Education
"Mike has been a great help to me as a new instructor. He is resourceful, enthusiastic and always eager to help. We could not ask for a better lab tech."
Carl Cederquist – Instructor - Aviation Maintenance – Aerospace
"Mike is the kind of individual that this institution is lucky to employ. The benefits of his dedication and hard work to the Aerospace division and the college in general are extremely difficult to quantify. Great attitude and the best kind of work ethic."
David Northrop – Instructor - Aerospace Composites & Advanced Manufacturing - Aerospace
