The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) announced that Kristin Kline, a student at Glendale Community College in Arizona, is one of three winners of the 2025 NISOD Student Essay Contest.
The Student Essay Contest is an opportunity for students to describe how a faculty member, staff member, or administrator helped them be academically successful. The essay is titled - Finding Purpose: The Impact of Belief and Support and it recognizes Leona Morales, Maricopa Community College, for her help in securing an important scholarship. Kristin’s essay was selected from 160 entries.
“There were so many great entries submitted for this year’s essay contest,” said Tiffany Hernandez, President of Glendale Community College, "We are thrilled that one of our students received recognition for their work. Moreover, we are happy that Kristin has found focus, is able to pursue her academic dreams, and GCC is helping make that possible.”
Both Kristin and Leona will receive $1,000 and an invitation to attend the International Conference of Teaching and Leadership Excellence. “NISOD offers sincere congratulations to Kirstin, Leona, and Glendale Community College, and we look forward to showcasing Kirstin’s work.”
About NISOD
The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) empowers faculty, staff, and administrators at community and technical colleges to support the needs of diverse students in the face of ever-present resource constraints. High-quality, easy-to-access professional development resources connect staff and faculty with applicable knowledge to grow their careers and improve instruction. Meaningful recognition programs can augment the reputation of individual students, employees, and institutions. But perhaps most valuable are the connections NISOD helps build among community and technical colleges to share ideas, strengths, and solutions.