As part of Employee Appreciation Month, Human Resources is encouraging everyone to submit a shout-out for a faculty, staff, or student employee.  This is a great way to recognize others.  Simply write a sentence of appreciation for an individual or team and submit it to linda.feiden@drake.edu between now and March 25. They will be compiled and posted in the next edition of OnCampus.

Read some of the shout-outs submitted so far!

“A shout-out to Jen Hinton for her joy and kindness as she works with her students, families, and coworkers.  She always is willing to help and makes the Drake community better.  I’m thankful for her partnership, ideas, and service to transfer students!” – Rachelle Setsodi

“A shout-out to Dr. Chris Kliethermes, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Chair, on behalf of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. He has been a great leader and a wonderful colleague. We all appreciate Chris and everything he does!” – Maria Valdovinos

“A shout-out to Kristy Hilchen and Valori Bross for dedication and commitment to supporting the admission team, prospective students, and their families as well as our dedicated work study student team.  Kristy and Valori juggle multiple responsibilities seamlessly and it is truly admirable. They handle each task with remarkable professionalism and attention to detail and approach situations with calm demeanors and an eagerness to help, making the admission environment positive for those who interact with them. They are a great team whose contribution is integral to the smooth functioning of admission, and the caring support they provide makes a real difference in the customer of journey of our prospective students and their families.” – Amy Nichols

“A shout-out to Samara Solis Ramirez: Samara brings an exceptional amount of peace, joy, and love to the classroom every day. She greets each day with an open mind. She is receptive and loving towards all students. I particularly am proud of her for continued growth mindset and flexibility in trying new things. She displays a fierce level of commitment to the families in our program and goes above and beyond to help meet the needs of those around her.” – Hannah Heersink

“A shout-out to Nanette Schroeder: Nanette is part of the gold that makes our program great. Her display of care and compassion to those around her is unmatched. Nanette is a great communicator and team player. I am grateful for her continued support of the families, classrooms, and teachers.” – Hannah Heersink

“A shout-out to Merrick Behnke: Merrick goes above and beyond to support those around her. She is a true team player. Merrick has built relationships with her students and families from years past that are still supported today. Merrick does a great job on supporting her student’s social and emotional needs. I appreciate Merrick’s contagious joy and excitement!” – Hannah Heersink

“A shout-out to Kylie Smith: Kylie does an outstanding job helping her students that need support. She embodies a team spirit and does an exceptional job supporting not only those in her class, but others in her area as well. I have witnessed Kylie handle challenging circumstances with grace. She has consistently gone above and beyond this school year. I appreciate the artistry and warmth that Kylie brings to our building.” – Hannah Heersink

“A shout-out to Mary Vaske: Mary has done an amazing job communicating and supporting her team. I appreciate the safe and professional environment she upholds. Mary has gone above and beyond for her teachers. I appreciate Mary’s willingness to support during challenging and new circumstances. It is evident that Mary cares for all around her.” – Hannah Heersink

“A shout-out to Sandra Barranco:  Sandra brings organization, a playful spirit, and a professional demeanor wherever she goes. She is fantastic at building relationships with her students. I love seeing the children from other classes seek her out. Sandra has had to be very flexible with helping several classes in the last couple of months. I am super proud of her for facing the changes of each day with grace. Sandra is an overcomer in every sense of the word.” – Hannah Heersink

“A shout-out to Alumni Relations, particularly Greg Lin and Kim Jones for their partnership on the Get LinkedIn Networking Breakfast with Career Services! They were great to work with and it was an amazing event.” – Amanda Martin

“A shout-out to Alicia Mann in ITS! She is such a delight to work with – responsive, competent, friendly, creative – all the things that make for an invaluable staff member!” – Ann Guddall

“A shout-out to the FPM team: Thank you to the FPM team assisting Drake Real Estate for their dedicated work keeping the rental houses in top shape for our students!” – Brandi Wright

“A shout-out to my Head Start team: They are the BEST TEAM I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Kay Zrostlik works diligently to make sure our program is safe, children are being fed with accuracy, and staff have all the supplies they need to do their jobs. Sarah Martinez not only makes sure that our nutrition paperwork is completed correctly so an accurate claim can be submitted to the State, but she has brought the gift of gardening to our program, allowing children the opportunity to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for their tummies. Trisha Hardy, Kim Tarbox, Kara Hedrick, and Judi Van Hulzen work daily with the children and families in our program, to make sure children are up to date on all health-related requirements and assisting parents with understanding the importance of their child’s health. Thank you for helping make our program a leader in early childhood education.” – Heidi Ball

“A shout-out to Shannon Hilscher, Nichole Stabile, and Bill Klein:  Since moving our MBA courses online many years ago, I’ve had the incredible opportunity and pleasure to work with the Drake Online & Continuing Education team including instructional designers, technologists, etc.  THANK YOU for bringing our courses and content to life in the virtual space/modality.  It makes a tremendous impact on our students (and faculty). THANK YOU for partnering with us by bringing your own expertise to help brainstorm and challenge us to be better every semester.  THANK YOU for your patience with us at every step along the way.  We learn from you and benefit tremendously from your technical knowledge/expertise/experience. THANK YOU for being so darn organized to help us get ready weeks/months in advance… with phenomenal and clear communication.  And finally, THANK YOU for doing all of this… while simultaneously making the journey fun (or at least not miserable).  Put Simply:  You work minor miracles every day and I (for one) hope you know how much we appreciate it.” – Matthew Mitchell

“A shout-out to Mary Beth Holtey: I appreciate the care and attention that Mary Beth brings to every student encounter.  Her work is much appreciated!” – Maura Lyons

“A shout-out to Lilah Anderson: Lilah does a great job in making the Anderson Gallery a dynamic and welcoming space!” – Maura Lyons

“A shout-out to Hope Bibens: Hope is an extraordinary colleague! She is collaborative and supportive of ideas to highlight our institution’s history, especially when it is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of students, faculty, and staff. When there was a very last-minute request to identify a picture of the 1975 men’s basketball team that was back on campus for a 50th reunion, Hope identified the picture and scanned it for use on the athletics website. She even found the trophy that they received for winning the National Invitational Tournament that season. This allowed for a very special halftime recognition, in which the trophy was presented to the team members by our current athletic director, Brian Hardin.  This is just one example, but it exemplifies how she supports the work done on campus.” – Blake Boldon