A group of award honorees, their representatives, nominees, trustees, and East Central College administrators stand together after the Missouri Community College Association annual recognition program, posing for a group photo.

ECC Employees Finalists for MCCA Awards

November 23, 2025 | Campus News

Three East Central College employees were finalists for Missouri Community College Association awards during the annual MCCA Convention and Trade Show. The nominees were acknowledged for their dedication to students, commitment to excellence, and meaningful contributions to ECC during a ceremony on Nov. 13 at a banquet in St. Charles.

Award Nominees

• Gregory Stotler, Excellence in Teaching Award
• Cynthia Cubas, Classified Staff Achievement Award
• Tim Willard, Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award

These honorees join Dr. Isaiah Kellogg and Robert E. “Bob” Hansen, who also received recognition during the convention. Kellogg received the MCCA Innovation Award for his creative, immersive approach to teaching physics. Hansen was honored posthumously with the Award of Distinction, recognizing his lasting legacy and decades of service to East Central College.

Gregory Stotler

Stotler, instructor of Teacher Education, was recognized as ECC’s honoree for the Excellence in Teaching Award. He has made lasting contributions to the Teacher Education Pathway, including co-creating ECC’s first Teacher Education Apprenticeship program and leading hands-on initiatives such as the Fall and Spring Learning Days. These events provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences for local K–5 students while giving ECC Teacher Education students meaningful, real-world teaching experience.

Beyond the classroom, Stotler serves on the Strategic Planning Committee, Instructional Assessment, Faculty Professional Development Committee, and the Faculty Association Executive Council. He also contributes to the College’s Summer Learning Academy, mentoring future educators as they work with elementary students. His commitment to students and future teachers continues to strengthen ECC’s mission and its connection to partner schools throughout the region.

Cynthia Cubas

With 27 years of service at East Central College, Cubas brings a consistently positive attitude and a willingness to take on new challenges. She has served at multiple ECC locations, including Sullivan, Rolla, and now Union, and she recently completed a graphic design course to strengthen her contributions to the College.

Cubas plays an essential role in ECC’s marketing and communication efforts. She maintains campus information displays, supports the Featured Falcon profiles, and helps promote ECC to area K–12 schools through banners and branded materials. Her attention to detail and strong organizational skills ensure that ECC’s visuals and public-facing information remain accurate and welcoming.

In addition to her daily responsibilities, Cubas serves on the Classified Staff Association Executive Council and participates in multiple committees. She also assists with fundraising efforts for both the CSA and the Franklin County Area United Way. Her behind-the-scenes work supports students, employees, and the broader community, and she remains a vital contributor to ECC’s success.

Tim Willard

Willard exemplifies a student-centered approach both inside and outside the classroom. Whether he is teaching business, economics, or college success courses, his commitment to student learning never wavers. He is known for going above and beyond to support students, no matter the format or discipline.

One example of this occurred last fall, when a full-time faculty member was unable to finish the semester due to health reasons. Willard was already scheduled to teach nine credit hours in two different disciplines when the dean approached him about the situation. Without hesitation, and despite his full-time job as the Union Site Coordinator at Central Methodist University, he rearranged his schedule and assumed an additional six hours of in-person coursework to ensure students could complete their classes without disruption.

Whether teaching online, in person, or live-stream, Willard is fully committed to student success. This was especially evident when he agreed to teach a live-streamed economics course between Union and Rolla so the Rolla section would not be canceled. Even when technology issues arose repeatedly, he remained optimistic and flexible so students would not be negatively affected.

Outside the academic year, Willard continues to mentor young learners in business planning during ECC’s Summer Learning Academy. His dedication, reliability, and student-first mindset make him an invaluable part of the Arts and Sciences Division.