Rockland Community College (RCC) student Christopher Raetz and faculty member Amanda Feeney have been named winners of the 2023 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Student Essay Contest. Raetz”™s essay titled “Amanda Feeney”™s Mentorship on My Personal and Professional Growth,” was chosen as one of the top three essays out of more than 140 contest entries nationwide.
Raetz is a nontraditional student who recently completed his Graphic Design Associate”™s Degree at Rockland Community College. After spending 16 years in the restaurant industry, Raetz decided to follow his dream of becoming a graphic artist and applied to RCC. Since then, he has joined the Street Team, a student-led marketing group, and has been responsible for several projects across campus. Largely due to this mentorship, Raetz will be transferring to SUNY Purchase in the fall to major in graphic design and minor in arts management.
“I am honored as a graphic design student to have been awarded the NISOD Excellence Award. When I saw what the theme of the essay was, I knew I had to articulate how much I have grown from the mentorship I received from Professor Amanda Feeney. She opened doors to large scale projects, gave me creative freedom and believed in and trusted me, which motivates me every day,” said Raetz.
As winners of the NISOD Student Essay Contest, Raetz and Feeney each received $1,000 and a trip to the International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence in Austin, Texas, in May.
