On Oct. 18, the Colorado Association of Career Colleges and Schools (CACCS) awarded Debbie (Deb) Burdge from the Westwood College – Denver South campus the 2013 Faculty of the Year award. Deb was selected as the recipient of the award from a field of 36 different career schools represented by CACCS and was nominated by her peers based on her professional merits.
In her 18 months as the program chair she has infused the Medical Assisting and Medical Office Manager programs with a renewed appreciation for educational commitment, professionalism and esprit de corps. Deb is an excellent classroom teacher and an exceptional life coach.
When Deb first came to the Denver South campus, one of her first priorities was to reorganize and mentor the Medical Club – a student organization for aspiring medical professionals – infusing it with renewed enthusiasm and direction. Deb also served as a catalyst for other student organizations to work together to combine resources to provide every student the same opportunities outside of the classroom. Thanks in large part to her guidance, medical students were able to visit a cadaver lab with criminal justice students and join forces with business clubs to raise funds and organize welcome parties for new students.
Soon after she started, one of Deb’s students took her own life. The loss was devastating to the students and staff. Recognizing the need for students to support the family of their classmate and to honor her memory, Deb immediately began to organize a suicide prevention fundraising event. She oversaw a campus suicide awareness and prevention fair that included a car wash, face painting, bake sale and suicide awareness seminar. The profits from these efforts were donated to the victim’s family and used as seed money for a scholarship fund established in the victim’s name. At the graduation ceremony following the student’s death, all of the School of Health students, along with many others, wore small ribbons in her honor.
As dedicated as she is to her students, Deb also gives back to her community. In April 2013, Deb enlisted her students and local Denver employees as volunteers for the 9Health Fair location at Alameda International High School in Lakewood, Colo. The event provided health screening services to almost 600 people during the eight hours of operation. Along with the charitable nature of the event, the 9Health Fair provided an opportunity for the students to interact with participants in a real-world environment as professionals.
In addition to assuming responsibility for coordinating volunteers, Deb also handled the logistics for food, visitor services and follow-up activities for the fair. She spent many hours before the event planning and strategizing. On the day of the event, she was at the school at 5 a.m., and worked until the last table was cleaned and put away at 10 p.m. that evening.
Without a doubt, Deb has the right combination of qualities that make an outstanding educator and role model. She is compassionate, enthusiastic, professional and committed to the success of her students and her school. She is respected and popular with her co-workers and admired by her students. Her professionalism and commitment to a quality education have greatly contributed to the success of the Denver South campus. Congratulations, Debbie Burdge, for being honored as CACCS Faculty of the Year!