Rentz is Chipola Faculty Member of the Year

6/12/08

English professor Pam Rentz of Sneads recently was named the Chipola College Faculty/Administrator of the year.
In her regular job Rentz teaches college students the importance of writing clearly and using good grammar and punctuation; but the lessons she teaches after class may be more important.
Rentz serves as faculty adviser to the college chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Like most honor societies, good grades are required to join PTK, but service learning is the group’s main focus.
Rentz leads Chipola students in various community service projects each year, but "Project Prom" may be the most intriguing. Rentz led Chipola volunteers to Bay St. Louis High School in Mississippi where they helped put on the Junior/Senior prom. Chipola students collected prom gowns and decorations and helped organize the prom for students at the hurricane-ravaged high school.
Chipola students participated in a number of service programs. The "Behind the Scenes" program encouraged reading and creative expression among middle school students. The Leaders of Promise Conference offered a day of leadership activities and seminars for area eleventh graders. The Senior Leadership Conference with SGA provides leadership activities for area seniors.
The Chipola chapter of PTK was named the Most Distinguished Chapter of the Florida Region this year and has won numerous international recognitions.
Rentz also has been involved in Chipola’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) for SACS re-accreditation.
Rentz’s supervisor Dr. Sarah Clemmons, says, "Mrs. Rentz is respected by students, peers, and administrators for her dedication to service learning experiences for students. Her involvement of students and the college in projects to serve the community and the nation has earned her much special recognition and appreciation by all."
Rentz has taught English courses at the college since 2005. She formerly taught at Sneads High School. She is a Chipola alumnus who earned a B.A. from the University of West Florida and an M.S. from Nova Southeastern University.
Rentz and her husband Bill have two children. Their daughter Paige is a Chipola alumnus, a member of the Chipola Academic Hall of Fame and a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. Their son Chase is a senior at Sneads High who is dual enrolled at Chipola.