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

Weight Watchers’ unique mix of face-to-face interaction with a trained leader, group support, accountability, digital tools, and the convenience of meetings in the workplace has been a winning combination for many of your co-workers at Drake.

Weekly Monday meetings include a confidential weigh-in from 12:15 to 12:30 p.m., followed by a 30-minute class. Classes are held in Opperman Hall, Conference Room 262.

Our current series ends today—Monday, April 24. If you are interested in joining our next series please contact Linda Feiden by noon today. Cost is $156 for the 12-week renewable series. A minimum of 15 participants is needed to hold an on-campus program.

Walk into summer with a healthier you!

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Drake University offers many opportunities for new and established faculty and staff. This academic year the University has introduced a series of “Did U Know” classes that spotlight departments and services across campus.

Our next class in the series highlights University Advancement.
University Advancement comprises four offices: Development, Alumni Relations, Community Relations, and University Communications. Their common commitment is advancing Drake’s mission through promotion, positioning, advocacy, and storytelling. What they do together powerfully advances the Drake experience for our students, alumni, campus partners, and community.

Join us Thursday, May 4, at 11 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Rooms 310/311, for this presentation. John Smith, vice president, university advancement; Pam Pepper, assistant vice president; Dave Remund, executive director, university communications; John Amato, director of development; and Andy Verlengia, director of alumni relations, will be presenting.

Participants will earn BUILD (Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) credits and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester. Additional BUILD information including an online registration form may be found on blueView. Click HERE to access the registration form. Please email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for more information.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Weight Watchers’ unique mix of face-to-face interaction with a trained leader, group support, accountability, digital tools, and the convenience of meetings in the workplace has been a winning combination for many of your co-workers at Drake.

Weekly Monday meetings include a confidential weigh-in from 12:15 to 12:30 p.m., followed by a 30-minute class. Classes are held in Opperman Hall, Conference Room 262.

Our current series ends April 24. If you are interested in joining our next series please contact Linda Feiden. Cost is $156 for the 12-week renewable series. A minimum of 15 participants is needed to hold an on-campus program.

Walk into summer with a healthier you!

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The Peerceive Employee Recognition Portal rolled out April 10. Peerceive is an online peer-to-peer recognition program where co-workers and managers come together to recognize each other for their great work. This is just one more way to recognize each other’s work, in addition to programs like All Staff Council’s Called to Be True Blue award.

The Peerceive dashboard includes easy-to-use tools to send electronic kudos or e-cards. Kudos are a way for co-workers to express gratitude for a unique contribution to the workplace. You can send them as often as you deem worthy and to any employee in any department. E-cards are an electronic version of a hand-written note. Use these to wish another employee a happy birthday, a general “congratulations,” or even a get well soon.

You have access to the Peerceive Employee Recognition Portal on blueView under the Employee tab. It is located in a channel on the right-hand side of the page. Bookmark it for easy access! Your user name is your Drake email address and your initial password is your employee number, including any leading zeroes. The portal is simple to use, but if you have questions, a Peerceive User Guide is available in the same blueView channel. For additional information please contact Linda Feiden.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Welcome Drake’s newest staff members!

Lilliam Santiago, Facility Maintainer III, Facilities Planning & Management
Brenda Kole, Assistant Director, Harkin Institute
Amir Busnov, Assistant Director, Office of Admission
Timothy Reger, Mail Service Manager, Campus Mail Operations
Niko Medved, Head Men’s Basketball Coach

This is Drake University’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 on Wednesday afternoons beginning in 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, History at amahia.mallea@drake.edu or Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Join dietitian Lucas Flaherty for the final class of this four-part nutrition series on Tuesday, April 18 at 2 p.m. in Olmsted Rooms 312–313. This class will cover nutrition labels, menu planning, grocery shopping, and dining out. Attendance at prior Healthy4U sessions is not required.

Participants will earn BUILD (Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) credits and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester. Additional BUILD information including an online registration form may be found on blueView. Click here to access the registration form. Please email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for more information.