CAMPUS

News for NMU Employees

 

Awards Presented at Employee Luncheon

The 2012 NMU Faculty and Staff Recognition Luncheon took place Tuesday, April 16. It honored faculty, staff and retirees for their years of service to NMU. Excellence-in-Service and Distinguished Team Awards were also presented.

 

Recipients of the Excellence-in-Service Award (pictured left to right with NMU President David Haynes), and a brief description of why they were nominated, follow: 

Grace Albert (Psychology), who has provided continuity in a department that has changed significantly in the last decade and has developed a system of keeping track of faculty recommendations for students applying to graduate programs; Paul Wright (Bookstore), who uses creativity and technology to find old editions or alternatives to higher-priced new textbooks and has saved students $1.9 million through the NMU Bookstore's used book program; Michele Bertucci (Plant Operations), a Cohodas Hall custodian who who is a reliable and hard worker, pays attention to her surroundings on her early-morning rounds to correct things before employees arrive for the day, and creates a positive environment within the building; Matt O’Donnell (Plant Operations), a custodian in Harden Hall who stays ahead of special needs associated with unique activities in the building and demonstrates effective communication skills, a desire to go above and beyond, and a willingness to take on extra duties; Grant Guston (WNMU), who skillfully combines production knowledge with his engineering and digital video/audio skills to design high-performance broadcast systems at a fraction of the cost incurred by other stations; Mary Brundage (Dean of Students), who handles student conduct issues with respect, professionalism and humor, while also educating students on what they did wrong and how it impacted the community; Max Graves (Audio-Visual Services), who constantly analyzes what new technology will serve NMU best and leverages the use of the video conferencing and streaming technologies in the name of efficient communication; and Niki Norman (Public Safety and Police Services), who in addition to coordinating information and maintaining the material safety data sheets on a daily basis was instrumental in assisting Public Safety in receiving its first-ever Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) State of Michigan certification with zero discrepancies.

 

Distinguished Team Awards were presented for two projects. One created an automated online NMU Donor-Funded scholarship application and selection process to replace a cumbersome paper-based system. Team members were (from left): Brian Larson (Information Technology); Robyn Stille (NMU Foundation) and Lara Clifton-Rice (Financial Aid). Not pictured is Candy Ingalls (Financial Aid). Because of the complexity of the criteria typically associated with privately-funded scholarships, student would apply for awards for which they were ineligible, which resulted in a lot of time wasted for the students and staff resources. The team significantly improved efficiency and service by creating a web application that matched a student's profile to scholarship selection criteria. The program was named a 2012 Models of Efficiency honoree by University Business magazine. 

 

The second Distinguished Team Award went to those who implemented the "Live Well, Wildcats: Student Health 101" program. Participants included (front row from left): Barb Coleman (HPER); and Stephanie Raboin, Robin Rahoi and Sharon Carey (Dining Services). Second row: Lenny Shible (Health Promotions), Dr. David Luoma (Health Center), Harvey Wallace (Professional Studies) and Mike Bath (Public Safety). Third row: Rachel Harris (Center for Student Enrichment, Bill Bernard (Academic Affairs), Dave Bonsall (Center for Student Enrichment) and Don Peterman (Public Safety). Members not pictured are Adam Burri (Health Center) and Jan Crawford (Information Technology). The team's charge was to help the university community become more healthy and fit by providing easy access to a wide range of health and wellness information and resources. They evaluated and garnered funding for Student Health 101, a monthly electronic newsletter that focuses on health and wellness information.