STCC Faculty Recognized, Awarded Deliso and Scibelli Endowed Chairs

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) recently named Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh the recipient of the Anthony M. Scibelli Endowed Chair and Gary Masciadrelli and Paul Thornton recipients of the Joseph J. Deliso Sr. Endowed Chairs.

Each year, STCC faculty are nominated for an endowed chair by their colleagues and then invited to apply. Applications are reviewed by an award-selection committee composed of faculty and staff. Winners are then selected by the STCC Foundation executive committee. The awards include a $3,000 grant given to each recipient, half of which is applied to professional development for the recipient and half of which is given to the recipient’s academic department.

The Anthony M. Scibelli Endowed Chair was established in 1992 to recognize and foster faculty excellence. McGinnis-Cavanaugh, professor of Physics and Civil Engineering, will donate her funds to STCC’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to fund service projects and cover event costs. She is the faculty advisor to the chapter, which she created last year.

“I was honored to receive the award and be in such great company,” said McGinnis-Cavanaugh. “We are only one of a few community colleges in the country to have a Society for Women Engineers chapter. I believe the addition of a SWE chapter at STCC is very important in providing professional resources for female students majoring in engineering, engineering technologies, and related STEM fields.”

Established in 1993 by the family of industrialist Joseph J. Deliso Sr., the Deliso Endowed Chair is awarded annually by the STCC Foundation in recognition of excellence in teaching.

Masciadrelli, a professor and department chair in Mechanical Engineering Technology, will use the award funds to update software in his department to an industry standard product called PC-DMIS for coordinate-measuring machines.

“It is truly an honor receiving the Deliso Endowed Chair this year,” said Masciadrelli. “It is particularly satisfying when I reflect on the growth the Mechanical Engineering Technology department has experienced over these last few years. As I begin my 29th year, this award is the exclamation mark on the exciting and fascinating career I have enjoyed at STCC.”

Thornton, professor and tri-chair of Business Administration, said award funds will be used to purchase a new printer and flip charts for his department as well as a set of multi-walkers which will be used in team-building exercises with his students.

“It’s a great honor and big responsibility to help students transform their lives,” he said. “Teaching is the most challenging, and rewarding, career there is. I’m thrilled to be a recipient of the Joseph J. Deliso Endowed Chair this year.”