Ken Ekegren, Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology at North Central State College has been named a regional winner of the William H. Meardy award by the Association of Community College Trustees. Ken was one of five regional winners of the award, representing the central United States.
The award is named in honor of the first executive director of ACCT, William H. Meardy, who recognized faculty excellence as the foundation of success in community colleges.
Past president of North Central State College Dr. Ronald Abrams stated, “Ken Ekegren is one of the most engaging and engaged faculty members I have ever worked with.”
Ken Ekegren is a Registered Professional Engineer residing in Mansfield, Ohio. In addition to his teaching at the college, he serves as an Adjunct Professor for Engineering Technology for Miami University (Ohio), teaching bachelor-level courses to various locations throughout Ohio via videoconferencing. Since joining NC State in 1993, Ken has put his innovative ideas into action to benefit the students and community. Ken developed an Audio Lecture System for placing college lectures on the Internet, and instituted a Design Project Class where students work as a team to build a mechanical system. In this project-based learning experience, group projects to date have included: hovercraft, towable backhoe, three-wheel commuter car, and various mechanical devices to assist individuals with disabilities.
During the summer of 2009, Ken and his wife traveled to Malawi, Africa on a mission trip to an orphan project their church supported. In an effort to help the local villagers, Ken had his students design, build and test various solar ovens for the villagers surrounding the orphan project, in an effort to reduce their reliance on scarce and expensive wood as fuel. In 2012 Ken returned to Malawi to direct the building of an outdoor kitchen and brick stove that his students similarly designed and tested. They also distributed fifty solar “lawn lights” to villagers that his students had upgraded and taught the village tinsmith and pottery maker how to build fuel efficient “rocket stoves” to replace the open three stone fires currently used. These are but a few examples of how Assistant Professor Ken Ekegren goes beyond teaching his students the skills to make a career. He teaches them how to make a difference in lives.
Kenneth Ekegren portrays faculty excellence in all he does inside the classroom and beyond. He not only heralds the message of community colleges but, offers the proof through his students’ accomplishments. He sets the example for others to emulate and through his ongoing role as facilitator of the college’s planning advisory council, demonstrates his willingness to lead from the front. We are very proud of Assistant Professor Kenneth Ekegren, his accomplishments, and the accomplishments of his students
Nearly 2,000 community college trustees, presidents, and national and state leaders gathered at the 44th Annual ACCT Leadership Congress. The 2013 ACCT Congress was held October 2-5 in at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.