Marla Larimore has been named the Coffeyville Community College employee of the month. Larimore grew up in Yates Center, Kan. before earning her associates degree in drafting from CCC. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in education and her master’s degree in educational technology. She joined the CCC faculty in 1995 and worked initially in the learning lab and as an adjunct instructor in math. “I was kind of a magnet to the international students,” said Larimore. “I began taking the international students back and forth to the airport and they started hanging out at my house. Through this process I saw a lot of needs for the international students.” In 1997, Larimore added the title of International Student Advisor to her job of teaching math. It isn’t all fun as Larimore points out, “meeting the international students is great but doing the paperwork is like doing your taxes every day.” In 2004, Larimore took on the challenge of college learning assessment coordinator. She still teaches some math classes as well. “I really like teaching algebra and teaching the students who really think they can’t do it. I like helping to open that door for them,” she said. This spring CCC has 28 international students from 10 countries. “I would love to travel and I haven’t been able to travel very much, so in a weird way, my little bit of helping with world peace is meeting these international students,” said Larimore. “When they get here and see how great the Coffeyville people are and then they go home and tell their friends, it feels good.” Larimore and her husband, Dave, are members of the First United Methodist Church. Her children and grandchildren are her life. The couple has two sons and a daughter. They have a three-year-old grandson and a step-granddaughter who is a senior in high school. Larimore’s daughter is expecting her second baby in July and her son, Bobby, is getting married in June. The Larimores try and travel somewhere every two years and so far they’ve seen Mexico and Alaska. Hawaii is next on their list for 2011.