Nineteen staff members were recognized during the annual Sapphire Awards ceremony on April 15, for having received either an individual or team Called to Be True Blue Award during the academic year.

In addition, during this event, the recipients of two special Sapphire Awards and this year’s coveted Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Award were also announced.

• Individual Sapphire Award Winner: Nicholas Kavanaugh, assistant director of student affairs, CPHS
• Team Sapphire Award Winners: Kara Wendelin Carnahan, manager, online student services and Suzanne Wisslead, CRM specialist – both in Online and Continuing Education
• Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Award Winner: Sara Hughes, assistant to the Dean in the Law School

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

It’s never too early to start thinking about True Blue awards. Presentations will start up again at the beginning of the Fall 2025 academic term.  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, HR