The annual Sapphire Awards ceremony was held on April 16.  During this event, more than 30 people were recognized for having received either an individual or team Call to be True Blue Award this past academic year.

2024 Sapphire Awards

Two Sapphire Awards were also presented.

• Michelle Laughlin, operational director, Access & Success, Student Disability Services, received this year’s Individual Sapphire Award
• Katherine Coady, administrative support specialist, Julie Olinger, administrative assistant 2, and Cindy Liska, administrative assistant 2, all from the Zimpleman College of Business, received this year’s Team Sapphire Award

2024 Madelyn M. Levitt Awards

Congratulations also go out to the winners of this year’s Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence and Distinguished Community Service Awards.

• Sydni Jennings, director student affairs, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, is the recipient of this year’s Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Award
• Danielle Shelton, professor of law, University Law School, is the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Community Service Award

Congratulations to them all! We encourage everyone to take time to congratulate these amazing Drake faculty and staff, and to find ways to recognize others.

It’s never too early to start thinking about True Blue awards! These will start up again in August at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year.  All Staff Council’s Recognition Committee invites everyone to fill out an online Called to be True Blue nomination form at that time, if they know of someone deserving of this honor.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources