The Peninsula College Foundation and the Peninsula College Office for Instruction awarded more than $31,000 in grants to college faculty for research and development according to Mary Hunchberger, executive director of college advancement and the foundation.

The recipients are:

_ English professor Janet Lucas, of Sequim, for completion and defense of her doctoral dissertation "Not Just a Feeling Anymore: Empathy and the Teaching of Writing," for completion of her Ph.D. in English from Indiana University.

_ History professor Dr. Michael Cassella-Blackburn for continued research on the people and the community who came together to explore the Ozette archaeological site on the Makah Nation reservation.

_ English professor Dr. Wes Cecil for developing a nine-part, yearlong public lecture series on the most significant ancient Greek and Roman philosophers.

_ Fisheries professor Jack Ganzhorn for studies on sustainable aquaculture in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

_ English professor Dr. Jann Gardner for research into children's literature featuring picture books of poetry from diverse cultures.

_ Medical assistant professor Jen Gouge for the development of a hospital billing design model, membership in the Association of Gerontology in Higher Education and attendance at the association's annual conference in 2011.

__ Terrestrial field biology professor Dr. Brian Hauge for continuing research on native turtle populations in Central Florida to detect patterns that could indicate the effects of climate change or anthropogenic habitat degradation.

_ Computer education professor Dr. Eduardo Jaramillo for the development of management/business case studies unique to the Olympic Peninsula that highlight how rural communities can engage in innovative industries and how changes in the global marketplace can affect local businesses.

_ International studies professor Dr. Ritu Lauer for research entitled "Maritime Piracy and the History of the Public/Private Security Divide," which will analyze the historical interplay of public and private security measures in combating piracy and the associated benefits and costs of this melding.

_ Medical assistant instructor Debi Menichini-Barlow for completion of Certified Professional Coder training to enhance the college's medical assistant program medical billing coursework.

_ Journalism professor Rich Riski to help fund equipment, accessories and materials to share with Chinese students for an intercultural exchange visit to Nanning, China.

_ Business/accounting professor Jill Snyder for research on the most effective methods of using technology in online learning.

For more information, contact Mary Hunchberger at 417-6535.