Working Mother (and Grandmother!) Wins NACTEL Founders Award

Each year, the National Alliance for Communications, Technology, Education and Learning (NACTEL) presents its Founders Award to honor an adult learner whose perseverance and passion for lifelong learning exemplifies the great potential of NACTEL educational opportunities. NACTEL brings employers and unions together to help design and promote online education programs that meet the needs of current and future telecommunications professionals. NACTEL's education partner, Pace University, offers online courses, badges, certificates, and degrees developed by and for the industry. To be eligible for the Founders Award, students must complete an associate or bachelor's degree while maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.25. 

Dawn Tatmon, mother of four, grandmother of one, and a completer of four college degrees, is the 2025 Founders Award winner. Tatmon, who lives in New York City, is a customer financial service representative for Verizon, a NACTEL advisory council member, where she has worked since 1998. She is also a member of Communications Workers of America (CWA), another NACTEL advisory council member.

Tatmon credits Verizon, CWA, and Pace University for supporting her success as an adult learner, which included access to NACTEL’s education program. Thanks to that support, she was able to complete an associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree from Pace University. Throughout that academic journey, which allowed her to study at her own cadence, she was able to work full time and care for her family.

Tatmon had considered pursuing an associate of science in telecommunications through another Verizon education benefit program, but it would have required a commute. Tatmon, who didn’t have a license and was fearful of driving, then heard about NACTEL’s online program through Pace for the same degree. She completed it in 2010.

She went on to complete a pre-baccalaureate certificate in emerging telecom technology in 2016. In spring of 2017, she earned her bachelor of science in telecommunications. Last fall, she completed a master of science in information technology.

“I am grateful for all I achieved and satisfied with attaining my master’s degree,” she told Pace University. “With the knowledge and degrees I’ve attained, this has made it possible for me to work anywhere in my company I would like to apply.

“I would like to thank Verizon, CWA, Pace University/NACTEL Program, and the Ivan Seidenberg School for making my dream possible. Most of all I would like to thank Patricia Vogel for counseling, advising, guiding, and helping me make decisions since I started at Pace University. I could not have done it without her!”

CAEL is the central liaison and project manager for NACTEL as well as the similar industry-education partnership Energy Providers Coalition for Education (EPCE). The partnerships convene employers, education and training providers, and industry intermediaries, such as unions, to support education-employment pathways that address workforce development challenges and enable rewarding careers.