Several staff members joined the Drake family in May:

Britney Samuleson, Administrative Assistant 2, The Harkin Institute
Nathan Jones, CPSO 2, Public Safety
Tad Stansberry, CPSO 1, Public Safety
Heidi Knobloch, Administrative Assistant 2, Dean of Students
Scott Valentine, Electrician, Facilities Planning & Management
Jill Burkle, Staff Accountant, Finance & Administration
Breanna Schwarz, Teacher Associate Substitute, Head Start
Ronald West, Campus Technician, Information Technology Services

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

If you are on Drake’s health plan you can save approximately $300 in 2018 by simply completing a biometrics screening and an online wellness assessment this year. Think what you could do with an extra $300!

There are three screening options:

• Complete a screening with your physician and have your doctor fill out a Physician Wellness Screening Results Form. This option is available through Aug. 31.
• Complete your screening at a participating Hy-Vee location. This option is available Jul. 1 through Sept. 15.
• Complete your screening on campus through UnityPoint Health. The on-campus dates are Oct. 4-6, 9, 11, 13, 17, and 19.

You are welcome to select the option that works best for you. That being said, there are a set number of spaces available for the on-campus screenings, so we recommend as many employees as possible consider the physician or Hy-Vee option. To sweeten the deal we are offering an EARLY BIRD PRIZE! If you complete your screening (through your physician or going to a participating Hy-Vee dietitian) and the online assessment at www.wellmark.com by Sept. 30 your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win your choice of a prize from an online wellness catalog. This drawing includes those who have already completed their screening and assessment in 2017.

Additional information about this year’s biometric screenings and wellness assessments can be found under the employee tab of blueView. The Wellness Portal is on the right-hand side of the page.
Please note that you must complete a biometric screening and wellness assessment annually to retain your wellness premium discount.

Questions may be directed to Linda Feiden, assistant director, wellness & engagement, at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

This is your last chance to sign up for Healthy4U BINGO— a great way to have fun and win prizes, all in the name of better well-being! The goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) with healthy activities you complete from a list and then play a game of Healthy4U BINGO for prizes.

How does it work?

Participants will receive a packet which includes directions, a list of Healthy4U BINGO activities, and a blank BINGO card. During the month of June, simply complete various activities from the list and record them on the blank BINGO card. There’s a broad range of activities to choose from, and you can complete them from home or work so everyone can participate.

Then at noon on Thursday, June 29, in the Paul Morrison Room and/or Friday, June 30 in the Olmsted Center Conference Room 310/311, bring your completed BINGO card(s) and join us for a fun game of Healthy4U BINGO for prizes! You are welcome to participate one or both days! If interested in participating, send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu with the subject line “BINGO.” Deadline to register is noon on Wednesday, May 31.

—Linda Feiden, Human Reosurces

Step away from your work and take a 10-minute vacation with a relaxing chair massage.

On June 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center Drake Room (Upper Level), licensed massage therapist Anne Boal will be giving chair massages. Cost is $10 for a 10-minute chair massage paid directly to Anne Boal at the time of your appointment. Exact cash or check only please.

Beside the benefit of washing away some stress and re-energizing your day, one name will be drawn after this event and that person will receive a gift certificate for a free 10-minute chair massage!

Click HERE to select your appointment time. You may register for one or two time slots.

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

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Join us on Thursday, May 11, as we honor Drake employees who reached 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 years of service from Sept. 4, 2016, through June 30, 2017, and those who are retiring or have recently retired.

This year’s event will be part of the May 11 Drake faculty/staff social from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Shivers Hospitality Suite, adjacent to The Knapp Center.

Please take a moment to stop by and congratulate your co-workers!

30-Year Anniversaries
Donna Blunck, Finance and Administration
Deneen Dygert, Undergraduate Admission
Teresa Koch, Cowles Library
John Stacy, Facilities Planning and Management
Denise Stowman, Student Financial Planning

25-Year Anniversaries
Pamela Brennan, Cowles Library
Ginney Camden, College of Business and Public Administration
Bruce Gilbert, Cowles Library
Susan Ladd, Student Financial Planning

20-Year Anniversaries
John Baker, Facilities Planning and Management
Teresa Bartschat, RaySociety
Michael Downey, Facilities Planning and Management
Rodney Henshaw, Cowles Library
Marla Rigby, Facilities Planning and Management
Georgia Sheriff, Robert D. and Billie Ray Center
Terry Thorpe, School of Education

15-Year Anniversaries
Christine Ditter, Student Financial Planning
Danette Kenne, College of Business and Public Administration
Marcia Keyser, Cowles Library
Justin Mead, Facilities Planning and Management
Christopher Mielke, Information Technology Services
Brandi Miller, Student Financial Planning
Clayton Mitchell, Information Technology Services
Kristine Mogle, Cowles Library
Lance Noe, College of Business and Public Administration
Umihana Omerhodzic, Facilities Planning and Management
Michael Spoerl, Law Library

10-Year Anniversaries
Susan Abel, Head Start
Sonja Brightwell, Office of Residence Life
Mary Cecil, Campus Mail Operations
Alice Cronin, Office of Residence Life
Dennis Graham, Facilities Planning and Management
Jean Hansen, School of Education
Victoria Haugen, Head Start
Jodi Hofer, Alumni and Development
Allison Pohlman, Athletics
Salvador Roman, Facilities Planning and Management
Kathryn Schott, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Thomas Stier, Athletics

5-Year Anniversaries
Maria Almanza-Arriaga, Facilities Planning and Management
Cheryle Anania, President’s Office
Linda Anderzhon, Alumni and Development
Jennie Baranczyk, Athletics
Debra Booth, Law School
Emma Daily, University Communications
Denise Ganpat , International Center
Amanda Harris, Head Start
Sandra Harris, Provost’s Office
Antonio Joya, Facilities Planning and Management
Kelly Kennedy, Head Start
Mark Kloberdanz, Counseling Center, Dean of Students
Toma McClintic, Head Start
John Meyer, Athletics
Riley Myers, Facilities Planning and Management
Brett Niederhauser, Public Safety
Peggy Nielsen, Head Start
Jennifer Rhoads, Head Start
Skylar Scott, Public Safety
Priya Shenoy, Cowles Library
Gareth Smith, Athletics
Nicolle Smith, Head Start
Thad Smull, Alumni and Development
Tyler Spoon, Information Technology Services
Daniel Taylor, Cowles Library
Suzanne Wisslead, International Admission
James Wu, Information Technology Services
Alyssa Young, University Communications

Retirees
Gretchen Beckley, International Center
Robert Cooper , College of Business and Public Administration
Larry Cox, Information Technology Services
Steven Faux, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
Neil Hamilton, Law School
June Johnson, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Jane Lynch, Office of Admission
Leslie Mamoorian, Office of Admission
Karen Mendenhall, Head Start
Raynette Meyers, Alumni and Development
Joyce Sharp, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Daniel Walker, Facilities Planning & Management

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

This is Drake’s fifth year partnering with Wabi Sabi Farm. Members of the Drake community support a local farm by purchasing a share and, in return, farmer Ben Saunders brings shares of the week’s produce to campus.

It is a great way to eat healthy and seasonally while supporting sustainable agriculture and the local economy.

Shares will be delivered to Meredith Hall Wednesday afternoons beginning in mid to late May. You may order a full share, which is delivered weekly for 20 weeks, or a half share, which is delivered every two weeks. If you want to split a weekly delivery with someone, let us know and we can look for a match.

For more information, costs, and to sign up, please go to www.wabisabi-farm.com.

If you have any additional questions, Drake’s student coordinator is Kori Ponder (kori.ponder@drake.edu). She can help answer any questions you have, and she will be the person working with Wabi Sabi Farm and greeting you when you pick up your produce.

Further questions can be directed to Amahia Mallea, associate professor of history, at amahia.mallea@drake.edu or Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Several staff members joined the Drake family in April.

Katherine Coady, Administrative Assistant 2, Events Management
Thomas Smith, Major Gift Officer, Law School
Wendy Borst, Application Operations Facilitator, Office of Admission
Mark Reiter, Assistant Director, Alumni Relations
David Thorson, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Athletics
Susan Sandeen, Accounts Payable Clerk, Accounting
Ana Espinoza, Administrative Assistant 1, Head Start
Ali Farokhmanesh, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Athletics

—Diana Lei-Butters, Human Resources

Healthy4U BINGO is a great way to have fun and win prizes, all in the name of better wellbeing! The goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) with healthy activities you complete from a list and then play a game of Healthy4U BINGO for prizes.

How does it work?
Participants will receive a packet which includes directions, a list of Healthy4U BINGO activities, and a blank BINGO card. During the month of June simply complete various activities from the list and record them on the blank BINGO card. There’s a broad range of activities to choose from and you can complete them from home or work so everyone can participate.

On Friday, June 30, at 12 p.m., bring your completed BINGO card to the Olmsted Center, Conference Room 310/311, and join us for a fun game of Healthy4U BINGO for prizes! If interested in participating, send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu with the subject line “BINGO.” Deadline to register is noon on Wednesday, May 31.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

During your last physical or wellness screening was your blood sugar level between 100 and 125 mg/dL? Is your Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 24?

Hy-Vee is offering Drake 15 FREE scholarships to cover the cost of attending a National Diabetes Prevention Program (a value of $499) for those who may be at risk for diabetes. This is a yearlong program to help you prevent developing diabetes. This program is split into two parts. During the first 16 weeks you will meet weekly with a Hy-Vee dietitian. During the next eight months you will meet once a month. Classes begin in September and will be held on campus during the day.

Participant eligibility is based on the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old and
• Be overweight (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 24; ≥ 22 if Asian) and
• Have a blood test result in the prediabetes range within the past year:
  • Hemoglobin A1C: 5.7—6.4% or
  • Fasting plasma glucose: 100—125 mg/dL or
  • Two-hour plasma glucose (after a 75 gm glucose load): 140—199 mg/dL

  OR

• Be previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes (with no previous diagnosis of diabetes)

Read this Diabetes Prevention Program Scholarships Letter to learn more about the program. Registration is open now and ends June 19 to be considered for the class.

Please contact Anne Cundiff (Hy-Vee dietitian) by email at acundiff@hy-vee.com or call 515-285-7266 if you have any questions or would like to register for this program. Individuals will be considered on a first come, first served basis.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources