Clyde’s Kudos: July 2023

Clyde’s Kudos are a Staff Association initiative celebrated each month on Communique. Nominations are also recognized through a variety of forums including the Staff Association website, the Staff Association newsletter, event shout-outs, handwritten cards and other methods of distribution.

Clyde’s Kudos: July 2023

Teams:

Academic Advising (Sarah Stoltz, Mya Gurerra, & Amanda Koos) | Alexa Salstrand, Lori Unruh, and Tomoko Weggener | Dean of Students Office (Alex Baker, Amber Gilson, Kristen LaRoy, Mary Studenbaker-Reed, & Daniella Trujillo) | Donovan McKenzie, Chris Hedrick, Troy Norris | Gabby Hensley and Jenna Press | Housing Operations Team (Angela Storck, Shawn Hood, Lillian Hogan, and Hannah Wengert) | Laurie Martin and Housing Custodial Team | MAD Team: Joe Dutton, Tony Rago, & Obed Orozco Salais | Rachel Seton and Cindy Brown | Student and Family Connections Team (Jon DeWitt, Misty Evans, Dora Chedid, & Heidi Nieuwoudt) | Student Life (Stephen Cucchiara, Noelle San Souci, Cody Parish, & student team) | Veteran and Military Affairs (Jeff Deickman, Joneila Henselman, Selina Jacobs, & Jessica Newman)

Individuals:

Aaron Ressler | Andy Johnston | Caleb Harris | Carissa Kepner | Charles Kuehler | Cheryl Fedorkowicz | Dan Olson | Deborah OConnor | Gabby Hensley (X2) | Heather Allen | Hilary Gunderman | Kiti Hall | Lillian Hogan | Luke Eldredge | Norm Halford | Robynne Kiplinger Dahl | Rose Johnson | Sharla Windle

Teams

To: Academic Advising (Sarah Stoltz, Mya Gurerra, & Amanda Koos)
From: Ellen Burkart

Thank you to our wonderful Academic Advising desk staff for jumping in last minute to help us with enrollment/retention/persistence phone calls. With the help of this team and others, we were able to call over a thousand students to help them with course registration and discussing plans for the fall 2023 semester. Making phone calls always feels like such a big lift and we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers! THANK YOU for going above and beyond your daily responsibilities to help. 

To: Alexa Salstrand, Lori Unruh, and Tomoko Weggener
From: April Keller

To be able to take time off for a vacation is so important and wonderful.  It’s even more wonderful when you come back and your team has taken care of everything while you were gone.  No fires, no phone calls or texts while I was out.  I’m so thankful for my awesome team who keeps everything running smoothly! :)

To: Dean of Students Office (Alex Baker, Amber Gilson, Kristen LaRoy, Mary Studenbaker-Reed, & Daniella Trujillo)
From: Ellen Burkart

Thank you to the outstanding Dean of Students staff for jumping in to help with enrollment/retention/persistence phone calls. With the help of this team and others, we were able to call over a thousand students to help them with course registration and discussing plans for the fall 2023 semester. Making phone calls always feels like such a big lift and we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers! THANK YOU for going above and beyond your daily responsibilities to help. 

To: Donovan McKenzie, Chris Hedrick, Troy Norris
From: Leah Harris

UCCS Housing Maintenance- Thank you for your hard work and dedication to making sure the Summer Conferencing operation runs as smoothly as possible. We would not be able to do what we do without you all! I am proud to work and know you, and appreciate all you do for us every single day! 

To: Gabby Hensley and Jenna Press
From: Kimberly Guyer, Carlos Garcia, and Susan Taylor

Gabby and Jenna provided some last-minute editing help to finalize a handout for the Board of Regents retreat. Because details were being finalized just before the retreat and we needed time to print handouts, our request had a very quick turnaround. They very quickly responded and helped us out. We couldn’t have done it without them! Thank you!

To: Housing Operations Team (Angela Storck, Shawn Hood, Lillian Hogan, and Hannah Wengert)
From: Ellen Burkart

Thank you to the extraordinary Housing Operations team for jumping in to help with enrollment/retention/persistence phone calls. With the help of this team and others, we were able to call over a thousand students to help them with course registration and discussing plans for the fall 2023 semester. Making phone calls always feels like such a big lift and we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers! THANK YOU for going above and beyond your daily responsibilities to help. 

To: Laurie Martin and Housing Custodial Team
From: Leah Harris

The UCCS Housing Custodial team worked tirelessly to clean all of the dorms in a short amount of time to ensure they would be ready for summer conferencing guests. Laurie Martin continues to be one of the hardest working members of the UCCS team, and working with her is an absolute pleasure. Laurie- without you I would be lost! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! 

To: MAD Team: Joe Dutton, Tony Rago, & Obed Orozco Salais
From: Erin Klein

It’s been quite the summer for the 4th floor of Columbine after a massive flood in May. With a speedy response from the whole facilities crew, they were able to salvage almost all of the furniture from water damage. Two entire offices were displaced for the summer, which required shuffling around three whole offices. The MAD team was so gracious and helpful with this whole process. Joe made sure to clarify plans with me for each step along with the way. Thank you, MAD team, for all of your work getting things back in place after our game of musical offices. Your work is so vital to making campus offices feel more like home. 

To: Rachel Seton and Cindy Brown
From: Anon.

Without Rachel Seton and Cindy Brown, the ELEM/SEC Praxis Prep sessions would not be possible.  Thank you for reserving rooms, creating social media announcements, tracking registrations, and ordering pizzas. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by all!

To: Student and Family Connections Team (Jon DeWitt, Misty Evans, Dora Chedid, & Heidi Nieuwoudt)
From: Ellen Burkart

Thank you to the incredible Student and Family Connections staff for jumping in to help with enrollment/retention/persistence phone calls. With the help of this team and others, we were able to call over a thousand students to help them with course registration and discussing plans for the fall 2023 semester. Making phone calls always feels like such a big lift and we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers! THANK YOU for going above and beyond your daily responsibilities to help. 

To: Student Life (Stephen Cucchiara, Noelle San Souci, Cody Parish, & student team)
From: Ellen Burkart

Thank you to the remarkable Student Life team for jumping in to help with enrollment/retention/persistence phone calls. With the help of this team and others, we were able to call over a thousand students to help them with course registration and discussing plans for the fall 2023 semester. Making phone calls always feels like such a big lift and we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers! THANK YOU for going above and beyond your daily responsibilities to help. 

To: Veteran and Military Affairs (Jeff Deickman, Joneila Henselman, Selina Jacobs, & Jessica Newman)
From: Ellen Burkart

Thank you to the brilliant Veteran and Military Affairs team for jumping in to help with enrollment/retention/persistence phone calls. With the help of this team and others, we were able to call over a thousand students to help them with course registration and discussing plans for the fall 2023 semester. Making phone calls always feels like such a big lift and we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers! THANK YOU for going above and beyond your daily responsibilities to help. 

Individuals

To: Aaron Ressler
From: Cybersecurity Program Office 

Aaron thank you so much for all your support and teamwork on cybersecurity and space outreach and community events.  You are always willing to jump in and our entire team appreciates your willingness to explore new opportunities.   In particular, thank you for your tremendous assistance in planning and hosting the Wichita Cyber visit.  We are so grateful for you!!  You are a valued member of the UCCS team!

To: Andy Johnston
From: Mikayla Greenfield

Andy always goes above and beyond. He has helped me keep our Talent Acquisition and multiple position searches moving forward while I have been short staffed. He is always friendly, helpful, and supports us with innovative methods in TA.

To: Caleb Harris
From: Erin Klein

The LAS Dean’s Office needed to send out a huge mail merge and Microsoft wasn’t playing nice–OIT had to escalate my ticket four times. Caleb Harris was finally able to work around the issue by building out a program for me! Caleb was so patient and kind throughout the whole process and provided amazing customer service skills. Thank you for all your work to find the right solution!

To: Carissa Kepner
From: Nathan Bullock

Carissa went far above and beyond the call organizing a great Enrollment Management retreat!  Well organized, great locations, and some great interactive activities.  Appreciate your hard work organizing this!

To: Charles Kuehler
From: Robin Bredl

For his excellent support during Fiscal Year end for the Division of Student Affairs.

To: Cheryl Fedorkowicz
From: Anon.

Cheryl always goes above and beyond to help a coworker or student regardless of the problem at hand. She often performs random acts of kindness in the Student Financial Services Department, be it leaving positive notes, decorating and cleaning the break area or urging us to participate in the UCCS Olympics. The positivity and joy Cheryl brings to the SFS is immeasurable. She is truly a joy to work with.

To: Dan Olson
From: Cybersecurity Program Office 

Thank you Dan for spending a full day at both UCCS middle school cybersecurity camps this summer to teach 45 students about cybersecurity law, policy, criminal justice and digital forensics!  The students loved learning about cyber and the law connect.  Your guidance on scenario and complexities made the experience so much more valuable for the student participants.  “Judge” Dan is welcome at all cyber camp digital forensics days!   Excited to work with you and Terri Johnson to put on the first Cybersecurity Gateway (GPS) course this fall, Cybersecurity Fact, Fun and Fiction.  So appreciate you tackling integrating cybersecurity into the College of Public Service!  

To: Deborah OConnor
From: Anon.

I would like to recognize Deborah Oconnor for her time and assistance with some challenges we were having within our department.  She helped us locate campus and system policies to help provide clarification.  She was always willing to talk through possible solutions and outcomes.  Anytime my department calls her she is always happy to help.  Thank you for always going above and beyond with a smile.

To: Gabby Hensley
From: Jenna Press

Gabby was immensely helpful when I asked her for help with a last-minute design project. She turned it around in a matter of hours and produced amazing work, as always! 

To: Gabby Hensley
From: Jeff Foster

Thank you for your excellent work on all the flagship admissions materials, as well as all the extra work while I was out of the office! You’re invaluable! 

To: Heather Allen
From: Kimberly Guyer, Susan Taylor, and Carlos Garcia

On short notice, Heather dropped everything on her to-do list to help us with preparations for a successful Board of Regents Retreat. She helped us prepare a presentation that we used as a guide for the conversation. She helped us organize the highlighted items in the most efficient way possible and ensured we had the materials we needed to be most prepared. Even though she had a full plate, she still switched gears to help us. She even moved her lunch plans because of the timing of when her help would be needed and due to the quick turnaround. We greatly appreciate her help and expertise and know that she contributed to the success of the conversation. Thank you, Heather! 

To: Hilary Gunderman 
From: Leah Harris

UCCS Catering would not have been possible without Hilary these last few months. After some staff departures, Hilary has remained committed to providing exceptional service in the UCCS Catering Department even with staff shortages, long days, and late nights! Our events could not happen without her- thank you, Hilary! 

To: Kiti Hall
From: Anon.

Kiti is a tremendous asset to UCCS and the Cyber Programs Office. She consistently goes above and beyond with her diligence in working on grants – and more. This summer the CPO held 4 incredibly successful cyber camps, and Kiti was an integral part of this success. She spent weekends and vacation time working on these activities, and even roped her family in to help out before the very first camps began! Kiti is always present and willing to help out on a moments notice – whether it’s “Hey Kiti, let’s go for a new grant, oh and it’s due in 3 weeks” – or some boxes need to be schlepped around – she gets it done. AND she literally does it all with a great big smile on her face!! 

To: Lillian Hogan
From: Anon.

Lillian joined Residence Life and Housing in April 2023. Since she joined our department, she has taken on her duties as Customer Service Specialist with a smile and can-do attitude. She has been active on campus and joined the Staff Association as Secretary after only being on campus for a month. She is upbeat and helps wherever she can in our department and for Staff Association. Lillian is a great addition to the Mountain Lion Family! Great job Lillian!

To: Luke Eldredge
From: Olivia McDonald

Luke joined the UCCS MarComm team at the beginning of May this year and immediately jumped in to help our team with the website refresh project. Without hesitation, he asked where we needed support in the project and was off to the races.

Because of his contributions, our team hit a significant milestone in our campus-wide website refresh project – rebuilding 20 College of Letters, Arts & Sciences Department websites.

I want to give a big KUDOS to Luke for being a great team player and a fantastic copy editor.

Thank you for all your hard work and help – it is so appreciated!

To: Norm Halford
From: The Student Employment Office

Norm is fantastic to work with! He is the glue that keeps our Cherwell ticketing system functioning. He’s responsive whenever we need something and always kind and professional in all of our interactions. Thank you, Norm, for helping keep our office running smoothly! We appreciate you!!!!

To: Robynne Kiplinger Dahl
From: Cindy Brown

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to Robynne. I have worked on campus for awhile now and am grateful for her exceptional work in the HR department. Her dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to her role and to UCCS have not gone unnoticed. I always appreciate her responsiveness to what sometimes I consider a silly question, but she is always extremely helpful and prompt. Thank you, thank you for all you do here on campus! 

To: Rose Johnson
From: Ann Amicucci

We had several faculty move offices this summer, and Rose went above and beyond by making all these moves go smoothly. Thank you for keeping us all organized with switching keys and getting access to the spaces we need! I am grateful to Rose for all she does in the English Department.

To: Sharla Windle
From: Jennifer Biga

Sharla has breathed some new life into our office after rejoining our team as professional staff. I so appreciate the work she has done and am so glad that I get to work with her each day.

Want to celebrate your staff colleagues? Submit kudos anytime through the Staff Association website. Communique publishes Clyde’s Kudos each month.