BHCC’s James R.W. (Wick) Sloane Receives Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC)’s James R.W. (Wick) Sloane was awarded the Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service on November 17, 2017, at the annual Performance Recognition Program State House Award Ceremony.
As an adjunct faculty member and Senior Special Programs Coordinator, College Transfer, Sloane has served BHCC since 2006, encouraging students to truly engage in their educational endeavors with purpose. He is considered an advocate and innovator on campus, working tirelessly to support students who are veterans while raising awareness to the needs of underserved students.
His steadfast commitment to homelessness and hunger amongst students has compelled Sloane to write articles for Inside Higher Ed on the topic that resulted in a grant award to purchase food which he distributed to classrooms across campus.
Sloane insists that student hunger and homelessness deserve college support and necessitate national awareness, funding and acknowledgement beyond the daily supports the College is able to provide. His influence led BHCC to institute an online survey on food insecurity on its campus, and his efforts have not only brought additional resources to BHCC, but have inspired important conversations on the issue.
“Wick is an exemplar of the public servant,” said BHCC President Pam Eddinger. “He is a caring, compassionate and devoted advocate for our students, our College and the mission of community colleges. He embodies the highest standards of public service and is most deserving of this distinguished honor.”
The award was presented at the State of Massachusetts’ Performance Recognition Program State House Award Ceremony. The event, hosted by Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, honored recipients of the Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service, the Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Public Service Award, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Workforce Mentoring Award and the Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award.
The 2017 award marks the third time that a member of the BHCC community has received the award. In 2016 Professor Lloyd Sheldon Johnson, Ed.D., received the prestigious award for his work with the College’s Diversity Task Force, and in 2012, Margaret Bovill-Hawkins, Director of the College’s Student Success program, received the award for her role as BHCC team leader of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), a nonprofit leadership training organization that works to eliminate prejudice and conflict in communities throughout the world.
The Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service, named in honor of the late Secretary of Human Services, is presented annually to 10 employees or groups of employees who exemplify the highest standards of public service. Nominations were reviewed by the Selection Committee, comprised of the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate and professionals from business, labor, community groups, academia and the media who are knowledgeable about Massachusetts state government. The winners were chosen by Governor Baker.
Photo Caption: Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service recipient James R.W. (Wick) Sloane (center) with Governor Charlie Baker (right) and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.
Bunker Hill Community College is the largest community college in Massachusetts. The College enrolls more than 14,000 students on two campuses and at three satellite locations. BHCC is one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in Massachusetts. Sixty-four percent of the students are people of color and more than half of BHCC's students are women. The College also enrolls nearly 1000 international students who come from 107 countries and speak more than 75 languages.
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About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is Massachusetts' largest community college, annually welcoming a diverse community of around 16,000 students. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC extends its reach across several locations in Greater Boston. The College offers associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific training programs. BHCC is celebrated for its diversity, boasting a student body where 65% identify as people of color and more than half are women. The College also embraces a global perspective, with over 600 international students representing 90 countries and conversing in more than 65 languages. Our commitment to diversity is further reflected in BHCC's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).