LCC Announced 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
April 22, 2025 |
The Labette Community College (LCC) Foundation and Alumni Association proudly announce the recipients of the 16th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards: Marcus Borhani and Aaron Stammer. This prestigious honor is presented annually to individuals who have achieved professional excellence, brought distinction to LCC, or made meaningful contributions to the college and/or their communities.
Marcus Borhani, a 1971 graduate of LCC, has a deep and personal connection to the college. Like his older brothers, Rahim and Ben, he came to the United States from Iran to pursue his dream of earning a college education in America. He credits LCC with providing the crucial support he needed to learn English and transition to academic life in the U.S. He recalls diligently transcribing textbooks using a Persian-English dictionary and receiving guidance from dedicated educators, such as Ms. Harrison (English), Mr. Epps (Calculus) and Mr. Knox (Physics) While at LCC, he also worked part-time as a custodian.
“Ms. Harrison helped refine my pronunciation of English words and was so patient with me,” Marcus said.
He continued his education at Kansas State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1973, followed by a master’s degree in 1976. In 1977, he began his career at Texas Instruments (TI) in Lubbock, Texas, where he served as a Product/Test Engineer and was later promoted to management. In 1999, Marcus helped to start up X-FAB Semiconductor foundry in Lubbock as a Product Engineering Manager and retired in 2017 as the Technology Development Manager.
“What I learned at LCC in calculus and physics classes served me throughout my 40-year career in the semiconductor industry,” Marcus said. “Those basics were the foundation of everything I did after that.”
Borhani has been active in numerous professional organizations. He served as Chair of the Institute of Electronic Electrical Engineers (IEEE) South Plains Section, West area Chair of IEEE Region 5, and as President of South Plains Chapter of Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE). In 2010, he was named Engineer of the Year by the South Plains Chapter of TSPE. From 2005-2013, he served as a program evaluator for Accreditation Board Engineering Technology (ABET), contributing to the accreditation of collegiate electrical engineering programs.
A dedicated community member, Borhani has served on the board of the Urban Renewal and Neighborhood Redevelopment Commission and supports several local arts organizations, including the symphony, ballet, and museums in Lubbock.
Born Mostafa Borhani, he changed his name upon becoming a U.S. citizen in the early 1980s. After a successful 40-year career in the semiconductor industry, he is now retired and living in Lubbock, Texas with his wife, Dawn, a retired accounting professor from Texas Tech University. Together, they have established scholarship endowments at both Texas Tech University and Labette Community College.
“When I began my education at LCC over 50 years ago, I never dreamed I would be in a position to help LCC students financially. Now that I am in that position, it feels amazing to be able to give back and help others achieve their dreams through education. Everything has come full circle.”
While still in high school, Aaron Stammer obtained training at LCC to become a Certified Nurse Aide and Certified Medication Aide before beginning his healthcare career as a Bath Aide at a local nursing home. He served five years as a Firefighter with the Oswego Volunteer Fire Department during high school and college and worked as an Emergency Room Technician at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin while attending the Nursing Program at LCC. Aaron graduated with Honors and as Salutatorian from Oswego High School in 1996 and went on to earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing from LCC in 1998. While at LCC, he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
After graduation from LCC, he served as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Room and several Critical Care units at St. John’s while also volunteering at the free community clinic in Joplin. He then gained valuable international experience as a missionary intern at Ninos de Mexico Children’s Home near Mexico City, where he cared for children, supported underserved communities, and participated in various outreach projects.
Upon returning to the U.S., Aaron worked in the Cardiac Cath/Electrophysiology Lab at St. John’s, where he assisted with coronary angioplasties, cardiac stent implantations, cardiac device surgeries, and ablations for arrhythmias.
In 2004, Stammer left St. John’s and began his career in the medical device industry as a Field Clinical Engineer with Endocardial Solutions. After the company was acquired by St. Jude Medical, he was promoted to Senior Field Clinical Engineer, where he worked closely with physicians, nurses, and technologists to treat heart rhythm disorders. He has received awards for his achievements in various clinical, sales, and educational roles throughout his time in the industry. His work with hundreds of physicians has taken him all over the United States and a few places in Europe and South America. Using advanced technology to create three-dimensional maps of the heart, he has assisted with strategic ablation protocols and supported the programming and use of pacemakers, defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization devices. He’s had the privilege of mentoring scores of cardiac mappers and sales professionals over the years.
Aaron pioneered the concept of remote collaboration for three-dimensional Cardiac Mapping and Ablation procedures in 2006 and presently serves as an Executive Remote Support Specialist with Abbott, a global leader in medical technology. He and his team partner with specially trained cardiologists to treat patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) – an arrhythmia that affects tens of millions of people worldwide and is growing at an alarming rate. The disease can lead to fatigue, stroke, or even death. “My mission is to help people with AF live longer and better lives by serving my customers with clinical excellence,” said Stammer. “I want to help redefine what is possible. Our team works hard to enable collaboration among healthcare professionals across long distances to ensure everyone has access to the latest techniques and treatments for their patients.”
Stammer credits LCC as foundational for his success in healthcare. “It wasn’t until years after graduating that I began to understand how blessed I was to have been trained by such passionate, caring, and excellent instructors throughout my time at LCC.” His career has taken a different path from traditional nursing roles, and he attributes his preparedness for this to the hands-on experience and exceptional mentorship he received in LCC’s Nursing Program. He’s touched countless thousands of lives over the years, and this would simply not have been possible without the education he received at Labette Community College.
In a full-circle moment, Aaron will also address the LCC Nursing Program Class of 2025 at their Pinning Ceremony on Thursday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Auditorium in Parsons.
Outside of work, Aaron served briefly as Chairman of the Board of His House Christian Fellowship in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and presently serves on the Board of Directors of the North Texas Electrophysiology Society. He and his family have been active members of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, since 2007. Stammer is a devoted husband and father who enjoys adventures with his children and spending time with Karissa, his wife and best friend of 23 years.
Marcus Borhani and Aaron Stammer will be formally recognized during LCC’s commencement ceremony on May 16, in celebration of their outstanding achievements and lasting contributions. Now in its 16th year, the Distinguished Alumni Awards honor those who inspire current and future generations of LCC students to pursue excellence in their personal and professional lives.
For more information about the LCC Distinguished Alumni Awards, visit www.labette.edu/foundation/distinguished-alumni or contact Executive Director Lindi Forbes at 620-820-1212 or lindif@labette.edu