Shoreline’s Dean of Students, Kim Thompson, was honored as the recipient of the Ben Webinger Meritorious Service Award at last week’s Washington Association on Postsecondary Education and Disability (WAPED) Spring 2015 conference.
The Ben Webinger award is the most prestigious award offered by WAPED, and according to the organization’s website is presented to an “individual who has demonstrated years of service and leadership to WAPED through any segment or combination of Association activities or life.”
Thompson, who has worked in disability services for 28 years and started as a counselor at Shoreline in 1993, was nominated for the award by Megan Jasurda, Counselor for Disability Services and Parent Child Center, Karen Fusco, Director of Access Services, Angela Hughes, Program Coordinator for Special Services and Kathy Cook, Director of Special Services.
In supplemental nomination materials Rosemary Dunn, Academic Advisor, wrote, “Kim has the perfect blend of professionalism and caring. She makes students feel comfortable and empowered to succeed in college…Her ability to think outside the box and advocate for quality programming and services has resulted in an Office of Special Services being a key resource for faculty and the campus community.”
Thompson has served on WAPED’s board and as president of the statewide Disabilities Support Services Council (DSSC), is a member of the statewide Transitions Task Force that builds partnerships between high school and college disability services, was instrumental in obtaining grant funding to expand facilities and services for student veterans on campus and helped create and establish Disability Accommodations Pool (DAP) reporting standards.
Kathy Cook, Director of Special Services said, “It is an honor to be nominated for the Ben Webinger, and even more of an honor to be awarded. Shoreline is fortunate to have such high caliber employees like Kim working for us, and we are so pleased Kim has been recognized in this way for her tireless efforts on behalf of students at SCC.”