--- title: "Edustaff Higher Ed Award: December 2024" description: Meet Edustaff’s Higher Education Employee of the Month! Each month, we highlight a dedicated educator or staff member making a difference in student success. image: https://blog.edustaff.org/hubfs/HigherEd_Awards_Website_December.png --- # Edustaff Higher Ed Award: December 2024 [Higher Education Award](https://blog.edustaff.org/higher-education-awards/tag/higher-education-award), [December](https://blog.edustaff.org/higher-education-awards/tag/december) | May 9, 2025 | By [Edustaff](https://blog.edustaff.org/higher-education-awards/author/edustaff) ### Edustaff would like to congratulate Jared Heersema on being named the Higher Education Employee of the Month for December!   Jared teaches computer aided design at Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Michigan while also working full time at Stryker as an engineering technician.   Benjamin Fries, director of advising and VA academic advisor at Glen Oaks Community College, said Jared is a dedicated and inspiring adjunct faculty member known for his exceptional commitment to students and passion for teaching.   “His ability to create an engaging and supportive classroom environment fosters both intellectual curiosity and personal growth among his students,” he said. “With a deep knowledge of his subject matter and a genuine interest in student success, Jared brings a thoughtful and approachable presence to the academic community. His contributions extend beyond the classroom, as he is also known for his willingness to mentor and offer guidance to students seeking to further their academic and professional goals.”   Jared’s favorite part of teaching is getting exposure to, and interaction with, a wide range of people. Students in his classes range from dual-enrolled high school students to mature people looking to make a career move. He really enjoys interacting with them and seeing their progression.   Jared is in his third year of teaching at Glen Oaks, and said he has enjoyed working in the tight-knit and supportive community at the college.   “I had no teaching experience prior to coming there, and everyone I have worked with there has helped me develop as an instructor,” he said. “I’ve really loved my experience there.”   Jared is also a college student himself – in addition to working full time at Stryker, being an adjunct professor, and being a busy dad of a 12-year-old and 7-year-old twins, he is also enrolled in a certificate program for integrated design and manufacturing at Western Michigan University.   Thank you, Jared, for your hard work and dedication to teaching! 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