Connie Dempsey, Penn Foster's Chief Certification and Licensing Officer, has been awarded DETC's Distinguished Service Award, while Penn Foster graduate Tiffany Brown has been named one of 2014's Outstanding Graduates and Famous Alumni. The DETC is a private, non-profit organization that operates as a national accreditor of institutions that primarily offer distance education.

The Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award is given to individuals working at a DETC-accredited institution for their special outstanding service that has enhanced the image of distance education or significantly furthered the work of the DETC. Since 1961, 85 individuals have received this award.

"I'm truly honored to have been selected by the DETC for its Distinguished Service Award," said Dempsey. "My work with the DETC has never been for the awards or prestige, but to create standardization and continued positive growth in the online education industry."

Dempsey has been a standard bearer for the DETC for over two decades. She has served in an educational-leadership role not just with Penn Foster, but also through her tireless efforts to serve the DETC. Dempsey joined Penn Foster in 1988 after serving as a teacher and in various positions in education, business, and industry. She is responsible for academic policies, oversight of faculty, instructional activities, regulatory compliance, and strategic direction.

Outstanding Graduates and Famous Alumni Award

For the 31^st consecutive year, DETC has honored the fine work of its accredited institutions and showcased the significant accomplishments of graduates and alumni. Thirty-three exceptional graduates were selected by the distance-education institutions they attended. Selection criteria included the graduates' academic records and the level and quality of their contributions to society and to their chosen professions.

Brown, a 2013 graduate of Penn Foster's Dental Assistant Program, was celebrated by the DETC for her participation in the New Mexico Mission of Mercy, a free, two-day dental clinic created for individuals who cannot afford dental care. In two days, Brown, a dental assistant in her hometown of Alamogordo, NM, joined more than 1,300 volunteers to help create 952 new smiles, which would have cost $586,653.

"Being recognized for my work post-graduation from Penn Foster really shows all students out there that following your dreams will take you places you never expected," said Brown. "Participating in the New Mexico Mission of Mercy was the most fulfilling experience I've ever had in my entire life, and without the help and knowledge I obtained from Penn Foster, I would never have been able to be a part of such a wonderful event."