Contact: Donna Stanley
May 18, 2007

MECC Nursing Professor Receives 2007 Coughlin Clark Master Teacher Award

Deborah Clarkston, Associate Professor of Nursing in the Appalachian TriCollege Nursing Program, has been selected as the 2007 recipient of the W. H. and Callie Anne Coughlin Clark Master Teacher Award at Mountain Empire Community College. The award is given to an MECC faculty member who exemplifies excellence in teaching and supporting students, who contributes to his or her academic discipline, and who provides service to the college and the community.

Clarkston received a $1,500 cash award and a plaque at MECC’s Celebration of People event on May 11. Brittany Haines, Judy McCoy, and Jessica Patrick, three of the 38 students who nominated her for the award, were on hand to assist in presenting the honor.

“Mrs. Clarkston always takes care of her students, especially the ones with hard home lives and low self-esteem,” said Haines. “She is a mentor, therapist, instructor, support system, but most importantly, a friend.”

In addition to being an outstanding faculty member, Clarkston is very active in professional and community organizations. She regularly participates in training to improve her teaching skills, and makes presentations at professional meetings. She also serves as the Chair of the Diabetes Control Project for the LENOWISCO Health District Community Healthcare Council, and is active with the Southwest Virginia Emergency Medical Services Critical Incident Stress Management Team. She served as the immediate past president of the Virginia League for Nursing.

Clarkston holds a Bachelor of Nursing Degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Virginia. She and her husband, John, reside in Big Stone Gap. She is the second recipient of the W. H. and Callie Anne Coughlin Clark Master Teacher Award.

The Clarks are graduates of Big Stone Gap High School. Before his retirement, H. was of CEO of Nalco Chemical, while Callie Anne led a great number of civic and philanthropic efforts in Chicago and beyond. Fond memories of their families, teachers, neighbors, and friends in the Big Stone Gap area, an active interest in MECC, and a desire to help students from their home community led them to endow the Master Teacher award at the college.

Deborah Clarkston, Associate Professor of Nursing in the Appalachian TriCollege Nursing Program, has been selected as the 2007 recipient of the W. H. and Callie Anne Coughlin Clark Master Teacher Award at Mountain Empire Community College.

(Left to right) Donna Stanley, MECC Vice-President of Institutional Advancement; Deborah Clarkston, Associate Professor of Nursing; and Terrance Suarez, MECC President

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