Owensboro Community & Technical College recently recognized four employees with top faculty and staff honors. Excellence Awards went to Nicole Ralph and Marty Higdon, while Accessibility Services Awards went to Krista Kamp and Grae Greer.
The Excellence Awards are considered the college’s highest employee honors and are selected from nominations submitted by the campus community and a pool of past award recipients. The awards are based on the former KCTCS New Horizons Award and include a $1,500 professional development stipend.
Nicole Ralph, associate dean of institutional effectiveness, received the Excellence Award for Staff. Ralph has worked at OCTC since 2006 and previously served as director of the Experiential Learning Center and as an adjunct faculty member. An OCTC alumna, she also worked in the college’s business office for more than a decade. Colleagues described her in nomination materials as consistently dependable and instrumental in leading major initiatives, including strategic planning and accreditation efforts, and serving as liaison for the college’s SACSCOC review.
Marty Higdon, a full professor of electrical technology, received the Excellence Award for Faculty. Higdon began teaching at OCTC in 2012 after working in multiple manufacturing and safety roles. Nominations cited his strong industry partnerships, student mentorship, and leadership in securing grant funding that supported a major expansion of the electrical lab. He was previously named a recipient of the college’s President’s Teaching Award and is a frequent “You Made a Difference” award honoree based on graduate feedback.
The college also announced its 2025 Accessibility Services Awards, which recognize faculty and staff members for inclusive and accessible practices that support diverse student needs. Recipients are selected through nominations submitted to the Counseling Center.
Krista Camp, Career & Life Skills program coordinator, received the Accessibility Services Staff of the Year Award. Camp joined OCTC in 2024 after serving as a speech pathologist and school counselor. College officials said she has expanded hands-on learning opportunities for students through community service projects and applied learning experiences designed to build teamwork and life skills.
Grae Greer, theatre instructor, received the Accessibility Services Faculty of the Year Award. An Owensboro native, Greer has taught theatre at OCTC since 2021 and leads the Oak Island Theatre group. She founded Bluegrass Community Theatre and has worked with several regional arts organizations and youth programs. Her nomination highlighted her work in strengthening theatre programming and building inclusive collaborations that expand student participation and access.
