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Black Hawk College employees Ewelina Bergert, Jennifer Marme-Lowery and James Noord recently received the Golden Apple Award from the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter at the Quad-Cities Campus.
During the honor society’s Spring 2026 Induction Ceremony, the Golden Apple Award was presented to:
- Ewelina Bergert, professor of business – nominated by Elora Tapia
- Jennifer Marme-Lowery, TRIO academic advisor – nominated by Diana Rosales
- James Noord, associate professor of computer science – nominated by Mohammed Alfahad
Each fall and spring semester, PTK students at the Quad-Cities Campus are asked to recommend faculty or staff members for the Golden Apple Award.
Congratulations to these outstanding individuals!
About the recipients
Ewelina Bergert
Elora Tapia & Ewelina Bergert
“Not only is she a great teacher, but she is fair and supportive of her students,” Tapia wrote in her nomination. “Her classroom expectations and curriculum showcase her desire to push her students that will require them to really think about the subjects she’s teaching.”
Bergert “works hard to connect the subjects being taught to real-world career options and situations” and “is always willing to help students with questions and situations outside the classroom as well,” she wrote.
Jennifer Marme-Lowery
Jennifer Marme-Lowery & Diana Rosales
“Jennifer has been an incredible support, and she is always there whenever I need her. Jennifer has inspired me to work hard and stay focused on achieving my goals,” Rosales wrote in her nomination.
“Jennifer deserves this recognition because she is genuinely passionate about helping her students succeed, and the knowledge and advice she has shared will continue to benefit me in the future,” she wrote.
James Noord
James Noord & Mohammed Alfahad
Noord “has gone beyond simply being a professor” and is “always kind, approachable, and willing to listen whenever students need guidance or support,” Alfahad wrote in his nomination. He is “the best professor I’ve had in my college experience so far.”
Noord “explains everything we need for the future in clear and thorough detail, and he consistently recommends helpful websites and technology that can support our career growth,” he wrote.
Also nominated (past recipients)
- Andrew Hoogheem – nominated by Mary Riddell
- Annie Oldenburg – nominated by Ashley Schmoll
- Amy Smith – nominated by Jennifer Gardner
- Laura Snook – nominated by Mary Riddell