Isaac Stewart, Dena Grunewald, Beth Balk and Dr. Jeremy Thomas
BHC accountant Beth Balk received the Professional Staff Member Award at the Board of Trustees’ November 2024 meeting. She is the first employee to be honored as part of the college’s new Employee Recognition Awards program.
Balk has been the grants and restricted funds accountant in the Finance Department since April 2013.
“Beth is a prime example of a Black Hawk College employee who exudes a positive display of our cultural belief of ‘One Black Hawk’ on a daily basis,” Dena Grunewald wrote in the award nomination.
“One of Beth’s greatest strengths is her ability to successfully collaborate with others throughout the college community. Beth collaborates with each and every grant manager of the college to help them understand the financial responsibilities and reporting required for their situation.”
“Beth also collaborates closely with our college grant writer to support their effort of finding new grant funding award opportunities. As her manager, I have had the pleasure of receiving continuous feedback over the years from grant managers expressing how much they appreciate Beth’s support and could not do their job properly without her guidance,” Grunewald wrote.
“While grants are only a portion of her job, Beth tackles each part of her job with poise, consistency and accuracy. The Finance Department appreciates everything about Beth, and we are honored to have her on our team!”
The Employee Recognition Awards program is part of the Board of Trustees’ continuing effort to recognize outstanding contributions of full-time faculty, adjunct faculty and staff members. Selected winners will have the opportunity to compete in the Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s annual award program, which features statewide peer-to-peer competition within the entire Illinois community college system.