Waves of Gratitude to Laura Culberg, Business Instructor

Laura demonstrated an exceptional commitment to high-quality online teaching by participating in Shoreline’s Online & Hybrid Quality Course Design Institute and successfully completing the rigorous certification process for her BUS 270: Entrepreneurship course. Throughout the Institute, she worked collaboratively with the eLearning team, thoughtfully incorporated feedback, and dedicated significant time and effort to ensuring her course met every required standard.

As a result of her hard work, Laura earned both Shoreline Online Course Certification and Washington State Quality Course Design Institute Certification. Her course reflects a strong commitment to accessibility, inclusive course design, student engagement, and evidence-based online teaching practices. Laura’s willingness to embrace continuous improvement and invest in creating an outstanding learning experience will have a lasting positive impact on her students and serves as an excellent example of excellence in teaching at Shoreline.

As the facilitator of the Online & Hybrid Quality Course Design Institute and an Instructional Designer in eLearning, I had the privilege of working closely with Laura throughout the certification process. It was rewarding to support her as she refined her course and achieved both Shoreline Online and Washington State certification.

Submitted by Brandon Fryman

As a reminder, for those wishing to acknowledge the work of fellow shoreline staff members or a group at Shoreline, you need only submit a Waves of Gratitude form for individuals or a Shoreline Shoutout for groups.

Waves of Gratitude to Renda Palo for Inclusive Excellence and Student Engagement
 
Renda recently completed the Washington State Quality Review and Shoreline Online certification processes for her Business 101 course. As a gateway course that serves many students across a variety of programs, the impact of her work will be felt by a large number of learners each quarter.

What makes this accomplishment especially noteworthy is the care and attention Renda dedicated to the course design process. She thoughtfully incorporated best practices for online learning, created a clear and welcoming learning environment, ensured accessibility throughout the course, and carefully aligned course materials, activities, and assessments to support student success.

Rather than simply meeting the required standards, Renda took the time to create a course that is easy for students to navigate, understand, and engage with. Her commitment to quality, accessibility, and student-centered design demonstrates a genuine investment in helping students succeed from their very first course experiences.

Because Business 101 is often one of the first courses students take, Renda’s efforts will help countless students feel more confident, supported, and prepared as they begin their educational journey at Shoreline. Her work is a wonderful example of how thoughtful course design can positively impact student success on a large scale.

I work in eLearning Services as an Instructional Designer, where I support faculty in creating engaging, accessible, and student-centered online learning experiences. I had the privilege of working with Renda throughout the course certification process and witnessing firsthand the dedication and care she invested in designing a high-quality learning environment for her students.

Submitted by Brandon Fryman.
 
As a reminder, for those wishing to acknowledge the work of fellow shoreline staff members or a group at Shoreline, you need only submit a Waves of Gratitude form for individuals or a Shoreline Shoutout for groups.

A Wave of Gratitude to Lauren Sandven of the Math Department for Inclusive Excellence and Student Engagement

Lauren Sandven recently completed certification of her course through the Online and Hybrid Quality Course Design Institute, demonstrating a strong commitment to creating a more accessible, inclusive, and student-centered learning experience. Throughout the process, she engaged thoughtfully with the self-assessment, made meaningful updates aligned with the Washington Quality Course Design Checklist, and was intentional about ensuring her course materials, activities, and assessments clearly support student learning. Her work reflects a dedication to equity and transparency, helping students better understand expectations and succeed in the course. This accomplishment not only strengthens her course, but also contributes to a broader culture of high-quality, inclusive teaching on our campus.

Submitted by Brandon Fryman

As a reminder, for those wishing to acknowledge the work of fellow shoreline staff members or a group at Shoreline, you need only submit a Waves of Gratitude form for individuals or a Shoreline Shoutout for groups.

Waves of Gratitude to Mark Allen with Technical Support Services for Respect and Student Engagement.

I went to Mark because I had a student that needed help. The student was frustrated because he couldn’t login to his account. Mark without hesitation said, “You want me to go down there and help him? Mark took his laptop and walked with me down to 5200. This was around lunch time as well. Mark sat down with the Student, talked with him like he was his long friend, but still with professionalism.

I think Mark was with the Student for 45mins to an hour. He got the student into his account, set up his email on his phone, and even set up a calendar reminder on his phone for his next appointment. The student was very appreciative of Mark’s service.

Mark is a special employee and deserves recognition for an outstanding job. Submitted by Lt. Emiliano Gamboa, Safety and Security.

As a reminder, for those wishing to acknowledge the work of fellow shoreline staff members or a group at Shoreline, you need only submit a Waves of Gratitude form for individuals or a Shoreline Shoutout for groups.

Waves of Gratitude to Carrie Cutler of the Counseling Center for Empathy, Responsiveness, and Compassion

The door to the Counseling Center is always closed to ensure student and counselor privacy and respect, but as soon as you walk in, you are met with a friendly and welcoming presence who is Carrie. She approaches you with compassion and understanding, and eager to help you-whether you are a student, a colleague, or a community guest-placing you in the best and warmest hands. It’s difficult to narrow down a specific situation because this gratitude shout-out is truly a wave that encompasses all she does for the Counseling Center and the College.

Carrie is also supported by an exceptional team of counselors and interns, all of whom demonstrate a genuine passion for fostering students’ personal wellbeing and academic success. The college is fortunate to have such an amazing team and valuable student resource.

Submitted anonymously.

As a reminder, for those wishing to acknowledge the work of fellow shoreline staff members or a group at Shoreline, you need only submit a Waves of Gratitude form for individuals or a Shoreline Shoutout for groups.