As we announced in August 2016, Drake is partnering with the company Royal Recognition, Inc. in celebration of our faculty and staff as they reach many milestones in their years of service to the University. With this collaboration, we now have access to a platform that automates service anniversary and retiree gifts. This allows all employees celebrating their 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35+ year anniversaries, and retirees to choose their gift of choice from an expansive online catalog.

Employees receive an e-card on or about their service anniversary or retiree date with information on how to select their gift, which is then mailed to their home. Employees with 20, 25, 30, 35+ year anniversaries and retirees will still be recognized at our annual anniversary and retiree event in the spring.

This online platform has taken the place of the former award system and was effective with all service anniversaries and retirements on or after Sept. 5, 2016. So far the response from employees has been extremely positive. An employee who recently celebrated a service anniversary said “The service anniversary gifts look great, and I was impressed with the wide selection of items.”

We look forward to what the future has in store for our organization and all of our dedicated employees. For more information, contact Human Resources at drakehr@drake.edu.

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources