Now that spring has sprung, it is time to go outdoors and get moving.  If you need a little nudge, we are bringing back the Walk this May team step challenge.  During the month of May, teams of four to eight will record their weekly step counts.  Totals and how teams rank will be shared weekly with the teams to keep the competitive juices flowing. Winners will be announced at the end of the month.

To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu by Wednesday, April 30 with your team members, team captain, and team name.  Grab your shoes and let’s get going!

— Linda Feiden, HR

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

Join Drake’s Corporate Games team.  This annual company-based competition for organizations in central Iowa runs from May 18 through July 31.  With over two dozen events to choose from, Des Moines Corporate Games (DMCG) is a great way to meet new people and have fun.

Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational. Try everything from pickleball and golf, to a fitness walk and yoga. You may participate in as many events as you want.

All in-person activities will be held in the evenings and on weekends and are free (except golf cart rental). ALL Drake faculty and staff, student employees, interns, and retirees are invited and encouraged to join Drake’s team.

To participate in this year’s Des Moines Corporate Games, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu for registration instructions.

— Linda Feiden, HR

As the weather starts to warm up, it’s time to get outdoors and get moving!  If you need a little nudge, join this year’s Walk this May team step challenge!  During the month of May, teams will record their weekly step counts. Team step totals and team rankings will be shared weekly to keep the competitive juices flowing.

To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu by Wednesday, April 30, with your list of 4 to 8 team members, team name, and team captain.  Grab your shoes and let’s get going!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Managers, please encourage your new employees to attend the first available New Employee Orientation after their employment. Either the manager or new employee can RSVP by sending an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu in Human Resources.  Please put “NEO” in the subject line of the email.

The next available New Employee Orientation session will be held Wednesday, April 30, from 9-11 a.m. in Levitt Hall, 2^nd Floor, Old Main.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

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

Employee Appreciation Day is observed on the first Friday of March.  This year it falls on Friday, March 7, and is part of Employee Appreciation Month.  Please take time to reflect and find ways to show gratitude to your team and colleagues for their hard work, dedication, and effort on this day, this month, and throughout the year.

To help show our appreciation, Human Resources and All Staff Council invite you to take a break and join us for this year’s BINGO event.  We also encourage you to try your hand at one or more of the other activities listed below.  Details on these activities and other appreciation month resources can be found on the Employee Appreciation Month webpage.

Build a Bulldog
It’s simple.  Click HERE to print off an outline of Griff II. Decorate the picture using whatever artistic materials you wish and send your completed picture to Linda Feiden, HR, 3^rd floor Old Main, by Monday, March 10. Your kids are welcome to participate too!  Don’t forget to put your name on the back.  Finalists will be on display during the BINGO event on March 12 for faculty and staff to vote on for awards.

Free Ice Cream Sundaes, Popcorn, and BINGO
Join All Staff Council and Human Resources on Wednesday, March 12, from 2-3 p.m. in Parents Hall South, Olmsted Center to enjoy some ice cream sundaes and popcorn, while playing BINGO. Prizes include a pair of tickets to the Varsity Cinema (and popcorn), gift certificates to Lachele’s, Drake Diner, and Café Chai, tickets to the Drake student production of “Legally Blonde”, Bulldog Shop gift baskets, and Drake Relays apparel.

Photo Scavenger Hunt
Recruit a colleague (or group), bring your cell phone, and have fun.  Send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu to receive a list of locations around Drake’s campus. At each location, take a fun photo.  Once you complete the list, submit your photos for a chance to win a prize.  All photos must be submitted by Thursday, March 27.

Give a shout-out
Shout-Outs are a wonderful way to recognize your fellow Drake faculty and staff. Simply write a sentence or two thanking a colleague or team for going the extra mile or showing support to others. Submit your shout-outs to linda.feiden@drake.edu between now and March 25, and they will be compiled and posted in OnCampus.

Finally, All Staff Council is sending some lucky staff a magnet in March with a picture of Griff II ‘high-fiving’.  If you receive one, keep it for a few days, then pass it along to another colleague who also deserves a high-five.  If you have a magnet from past years, pass it along to another deserving colleague as well.  The magnets can be handed off again and again with the hopes of reaching as many of Drake’s amazing staff members as possible.

Please take some time this month to let others know you appreciate their efforts and know that YOUR efforts are appreciated.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

All Drake faculty and staff are invited and encouraged to nominate a colleague for the 2025 Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service and Employee Excellence Awards.

The Employee Excellence Award is presented to a staff member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to excellence in the performance of their duties. The Distinguished Community Service Award recognizes the outstanding contributions of Drake faculty and staff to the Drake community. The criteria to be eligible for each of these awards can be found here.

To nominate a colleague, submit a letter of nomination to Human Resources. Nomination letters may be sent through campus mail or electronically to drakehr@drake.edu.  The subject line should read “Madelyn M. Levitt Award Nomination”.  The letter should detail specific examples of how the nominee exemplifies each of the applicable criteria. Additional letters of support are not necessary. Nominations are due to Human Resources by Monday, March 3.

For additional information, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

If you would like to make (or continue making) healthy changes in 2025 but find yourself getting easily distracted by everyday responsibilities, this challenge is for you.

From March 3 through March 30, you will be given two challenges per day that cover one or more dimensions of wellbeing.  You select the one you want to complete that day, or if you are feeling ambitious, complete them both.  The goal is to complete at least one challenge on 25 of the 28 days.  If you succeed, turn in your completed form for a chance to win a prize.

This is a challenge you can do on your own, or invite family, friends, or co-workers to join along.  Make it a competition to see who can complete the most challenges!

Send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu by Friday, Feb. 28 to register.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Last year Human Resources held a “Build a Bulldog” contest as part of employee appreciation month.  We had some fantastic entries, so we are going to do it again!

To participate, simply click HERE to print off an outline of Griff II for the contest. Decorate the picture using whatever artistic materials you wish and send your completed picture to Linda Feiden, HR, 3^rd floor Old Main, by Monday, March 10. You are welcome to submit multiple entries if you have budding artists at home, and don’t forget to put your name on the back of each entry.  All entries will go through a preliminary screening and the finalists will be on display for faculty and staff to vote on at this year’s BINGO event on March 12.  More details on the BINGO event will be shared soon!

If you have any questions, please feel free to send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.