Katie Overberg, Drake’s Title IX coordinator, was honored last week with a Called to Be True Blue Award from All Staff Council. Said her nominator, colleague Brett Niederhauser, assistant director of public safety, “Ever since Katie has started at Drake, I’ve asked myself countless times, ‘How did we ever survive before her?’”

Niederhauser highlighted Overberg’s professionalism in working with students, staff, faculty, and the community; successful coordination of numerous policy changes; and her skills in creating clear communications to help people understand Title IX and navigate through reporting procedures.

“Although Katie is technically a 10-month position, she’s always on campus doing training for Title IX issues,” he wrote. “The multitude of responsibilities in her position are generally handled by an entire department, but Katie is not only managing that well, but succeeding in real positive change that is impactful for the whole Drake community.”

Join Overberg and the other True Blue nominees from this academic year who are in the running for Sapphire Awards at our year-end event, May 4 at 2 p.m. in Levitt Hall.

—All Staff Council Recognition Committee

There have been a flurry of True Blue award presentations over the past week: staff members Ellen Lowe and Amanda Martin and teams Jessie Neal and Heather Storms (Law Library) and the athletics communication, marketing and promotion teams. Kudos to these individuals and teams, who will be considered for overall awards at the Sapphire Awards Show, held May 4, 2–3 p.m., in Levitt Hall.

True Blue: Individuals

Ellen Lowe
Ellen Lowe, assistant director, Rec Services, received a True Blue Award for her positive attitude, passion for her job, and work in implementing new tools and strategies for wellness engagement. Her nominator, Sara Heijerman, student services center manager, began working under Lowe when she started teaching fitness classes this fall:

“She helped me transition into the “wellness world” seamlessly this fall, and seriously oozes positive energy. She is a great addition to the Wellness staff and Drake University.”

Amanda Martin
Also in April, Programs Coordinator for Community Engaged Learning Amanda Martin was recognized with a True Blue Award, nominated by Director, Community Engaged Learning Renee Sedlacek. In her nomination, Sedlacek lauded Martin for her tireless work in coordinating logistics for service-learning programs, managing the team of six student service-learning ambassadors, and advising the Community Action Board:

“Amanda treats our student workers as paraprofessionals and empowers them to take on significant leadership responsibilities. She is often asked to jump in on projects at the last minute, and always does so with a positive, can-do attitude.”

True Blue: Teams

Athletics Communications and Marketing Promotions team
The athletics communications, marketing, and promotions team was awarded a group True Blue Award for their dedication, enthusiasm, and work on projects such as personalized player emoji magnets and successful promotion of the attendance record-breaking UNI game, as well as for creating an upbeat, exciting atmosphere at games. Wrote nominator Niki Smith, assistant director, public relations, on behalf of the University Communications public relations team:

“The spirit of the team has brought an aura of positivity to the Knapp Center. Whether the Bulldogs win or lose, the staff remains positive and full of Drake spirit. (They) are demonstrating by example of what living the Bulldog Way means.”

Jessie Neal and Heather Storms (Law Library)
Law Library staff members Jessie Neal, public services associate, and Heather Storms, access services associate, were recognized in April with a True Blue Award from All Staff Council. Their nominator, Circulation/Reference Librarian and Professor of Law Librarianship Karen Wallace, highlighted an instance this year in which both took the initiative to tackle a problem to benefit both students and the University’s bottom line:

“They took personal responsibility for ensuring the complete review and repair of the collection of CD study aids, comprising approximately 400 disks. Law students use this collection heavily, and will benefit from the completion of this project before finals.”

—All Staff Council Recognition Committee