NTID’s National Advisory Group Awards Three for Outstanding Service

The National Technical Institute for the Deaf’s National Advisory Group named Kathy Darroch, Barbara Ray Holcomb, and Jeannette Vargas winners of its 2003 Outstanding Service Award. The award is given annually to faculty or staff members who demonstrate exceptional dedication and service to NTID.

Darroch, an interpreter in NTID’s Department of Interpreting Services since 1986, was recognized for her comprehensive skills certification, frequent presence as an interpreter on many high-level assignments including the World Federation of the Deaf, and membership with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

Holcomb, an associate professor in NTID’s Deaf Studies program, joined the college in 1977. She was recognized for her commitment to American Sign Language instruction, coordinating the "RITSign" program of non-credit sign language courses, and co-coaching NTID’s award-winning College Bowl student team to victory in a recent academic competition.

Vargas has been with NTID since 1995, and works in the Division of College Advancement as senior staff assistant. In addition to serving as an advisor to the Hispanic Deaf Club and Lambda Alpha Upsilon, a fraternity for Latino students, she serves on the NTID Hispanic Leadership Support Committee.

NTID is the first and largest technological college in the world for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. NTID, one of eight colleges of Rochester Institute of Technology, offers educational programs and access and support services to its 1,100 students from around the world who study, live and socialize with 14,000 hearing students on RIT’s Rochester, N.Y., campus.

Web address: http://www.rit.edu/NTID.