Two Seminole State College employees were recognized for their hard work and dedication during the monthly Seminole Chamber of Commerce Forum on April 13. Nursing Instructor Damaila Lester was honored as Faculty Member of the Month, and Comptroller Julie Hix was honored as Staff Member of the Month.

The Seminole Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, along with the Lions Club and Kontoor Brands/Wranger, recognize SSC employees several times during Forum each year. Individuals are nominated from across the campus and chosen by SSC administrators to receive the honor.

Lester has worked at SSC for nearly three years. In her role, she has taught Medical-Surgical Nursing II, as well as clinicals for the course at the hospital. She is currently transitioning to serve as the Nursing department’s Clinical Coordinator, where she will work on facilitating student clinical assignments at hospitals and other sites.

While in high school, she attended SSC concurrently then went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Oklahoma City University in 2016. She completed her master’s degree in Nursing at Northeastern State University in 2022.

Lester serves on the SSC Faculty Senate Scholarship Committee, leads a study group for nursing students once a week and volunteers at the Salvation Army. She, her husband, Brad, and their daughter, Margo, make their home in Tecumseh.

For the last 17 years, Hix has worked at SSC. After serving as the Director of the GEAR UP federal grant program, she took on the position of Comptroller last year. In that role, she manages campus budgets and purchasing processes, while keeping all general ledger accounts and state cash accounts in balance.

She earned her associate’s degree at SSC, her bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education at East Central University and her master’s degree in Education Administration at East Central University.

She is a member of the SSC Professional Staff Council. She and her husband, Tony, reside in Seminole. They have three sons, Justin, Jarrod and Jordan.