Elbert student graduates, earns leadership award

Elbert native Tara Wille recently graduated from McCook Community College, McCook, Neb., and was one of several students receiving the college’s Special Initiatives Award.

Wille, received the Area Dean of Student Life - Student Leadership Award, which is given annually to an outstanding student leader, who has made a significant contribution to his/her organization and to the college community.

She was cited for showing “tremendous leadership skills both on and off the court.” She competed in both volleyball and basketball at MCC.

“Tara is intrinsically motivated and is always looking to get involved in activities and inspires others to get involved as well,” said the letter of nomination. “From getting dressed up in theme attire to go support the basketball team, decorating her hall for a special occasion in the dorms or volunteering to make the monthly work schedules she’s always thinking outside of the box and never afraid to take the lead.”

At MCC, Wille was known as a hard worker in the classroom and for making time to help her classmates with their work.

“Tara promotes school spirit and pride and is constantly wearing a smile making others feel welcome wherever she goes,” said the award nomination letter.

Willie is a geology major who will transfer to Colorado State University in the fall, she maintained a 3.49 grade-point average in her two years at MCC.

In addition to her commitments to athletics and academics, she worked in the MCC Science Department and was instrumental in the research and development of institution-produced on-line physical science kits, which will be used for the first time in the fall.

MCC has been offering on-line science classes for several years, but the challenge has been in figuring out how to deliver the vital laboratories that accompany the on-line lectures. A company that previously produced those kits stopped producing them so in order to keep the on-line class, MCC developed their own kits – thanks in part to Wille.

After instructors found the individual suppliers, it was up to Wille to label and assemble the kits, as well as perform the 15 class experiments with the same instructions future physical science students will receive.

The kits will contain a number of non-consumable items like: electronic balancers, a digital multi-meters, ring stands, glassware, rulers, protractors as well as consumable products like pre-packaged chemicals in pre-measured containers.

“Tara worked her way through the experiments one-by-one using only my written instructions, and some digital photos,” said MCC Science Instructor Jim Garretson said.

What they found is that the same verbal instructions given to a classroom full of students didn’t always translate to a student simply reading instructions and looking at photos.

“There were several areas where we had to tweak and revise, and in some cases there were several revisions, but now we’re battle tested and ready for the first batch of students this fall,” Garretson said. “Thanks in great part to the work Tara did for us. Future generations of science students have Tara to thank for that.”