Distinguished Service Award
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Information for the Distinguished Service Award coming soon!
About the Carolina TESOL Distinguished Service Award
The Carolina TESOL Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals and organizations, from North and South Carolina for outstanding service other than teaching or research. The recipient’s service is of primary importance to the profession of ESOL, a contribution with such an impact, either socially or legally, that it brings forth a positive recognition to the profession of ESOL.
The Distinguished Service Award will be presented by the President during the business meeting at the Carolina TESOL annual conference.
Eligibility Requirements
Nominees do not have to be a Carolina TESOL member. Contributions must directly benefit the ESOL profession within three previous calendar years. Nominees may receive the Distinguished Service Award only once.
Criteria and Nomination Process
The Nominating Committee reviews the qualifications of all nominees and forwards its confidential recommendation of all qualified nominees to the Executive Board. The Executive Board has the authority to accept or reject the recommendations in order to select appropriate recipients.
Deadline for Submission:
September 15, 2024
Dr. Melody Zoch
Dr. Melody Zoch has made numerous contributions to the TESOL field. She is a former bilingual Spanish-English elementary school teacher. Currently, Dr. Zoch is an associate professor of Literacy and TESOL education at UNC Greensboro. In addition, she is the lead principal investigator for IGNITE project also at UNC Greensboro. Her research interests include how educators respond in their literacy teaching, especially in culturally and linguistically diverse communities, social/cultural political influences on teaching, and teaching in high-stakes testing contexts.
Rep. Neal Collins
South Carolina Representative Neal Collins has championed the rights of undocumented people and DACA recipients by authoring, sponsoring, and advocating for the passage of SC House bill 3243, which permits DACA recipients to sit for licensure exams in professional fields. Advocating for career pathways for undocumented and “DACA-mented” residents of South Carolina is central to Carolina TESOL’s mission. Rep. Collins has committed - at great personal and political risk - to the passage of this crucial legislation that will have a direct positive impact on South Carolina immigrant students and families.
Past winners of the Distinguished Service Award
2021 - Deborah Wilkes
2020 - Alma Puente Ruiz, Xatli Stox
2016 - Mariel Gomez de la Torre
2015 - Joanne Marino, Annie Means
2013 - Ivanna Mann Thrower Anderson, Caroline Hooker
2012 - Linda Camerino, Deborah Holland Shields
2011 - Debbie O'Neal
2007 - Pat Majors
2006 - Fran Hoch