Polly Kay Receives Presidential Medallion for Instructional Excellence

FOR RELEASE AFTER 7:30 P.M. MAY 12, 2003 5/12/2003
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Polly Kay, a Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) instructor at Tri-County Technical College, received the highest award presented to the faculty, the Presidential Medallion for Instructional Excellence, at the College's 40th commencement May 12.

Dr. Don C. Garrison, president, presented the medallion to the Anderson resident. The medallion is presented each year to the instructor who has contributed the most during the academic year to the profession of teaching, to the development of the College and to the students.

Mrs. Kay joined Tri-County as a full time instructor following four years as a medical technologist and two as a hematology technologist at Anderson Area Medical Center. She also had two years prior teaching experience at the Anderson Memorial Hospital School of Medical Technology. She was an adjunct instructor for Tri-County's MLT department for several years before becoming full time in 1989. She holds a B.S. in Medical Technology from Clemson University and a master's in Health Sciences from the Medical University of South Carolina.

She also holds a Medical Technologist certificate from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and is a graduate of the Anderson Memorial Hospital's School of Medical Technology.

"Polly is respected by her students and makes herself available to them if extra help is needed," said Dr. Garrison, when he presented her with the medallion. ."Not only is she an outstanding instructor but she is very loyal and supportive in the functioning of the MLT program. She wrote the self-study for re-accreditation this year and for a year, she helped to prepare for this inspection process that resulted in no recommendations."

She served on the College's Instructional Affairs Committee for four years and served as chair for one year.

She is registered with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and is a member of the S.C. Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. She also is a member of the South Carolina Technical Education Association. She and her family are members of the Long Branch Baptist Church where she is a Children's Sunday School Teacher and assistant children's choir director.

She and her husband, Joel, have two children, and they live in Anderson.
-30-