NMU recently celebrated its first-ever Employee Appreciation Month. Events included the appreciation day kickoff, a retirees breakfast and the annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration, where awards for excellence in service, innovation and distinguished team were presented.
The Northern STAR internal award program continues. According to Renee Sheen, assistant director of Human Resources, the program has been very successful and just celebrated a milestone of 100 STAR cards presented from colleague to colleague across campus.
Below are the team and individual award recipients from the Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration.
Distinguished Team Awards:
The Behavioral Education, Assessment and Research Center (BEAR Center) fills a previous service void in the area for children with autism or other behavioral disorders, has established partnerships with community agencies and provides quality education and training to students seeking to become behavioral therapists. BEAR Center members pictured with President Fritz Erickson in the top photo are (left to right): Suzanne Hintsala, Grace Albert, Jacob Daar, Ashley Shayter, Victoria Mattson and Adam Prus. Not pictured: Jeremy Biesbrouck and Kyle Rowsey.
Northern's Educational Access Network (EAN) Site Development and Construction Team has planned and constructed LTE broadband wireless sites needed to facilitate NMU's effort to extend broadband to rural communities throughout the Upper Peninsula. Pictured with Erickson in the first photo below are Mark Pantti, Chad VanderPloeg and Don Salo.
The Northern Lights Dining Team has helped to provide a distinctive dining experience through “exceptional food, a warm environment and friendly service” to students and the NMU community. Pictured with Erickson in the second photo below are (front L to R): Carolyn Brecht, Chris Matthews, Anita Oakland, Kathy Gischia, and Jean Shaw; (back L to R): Scott Bonsall, Ryan Mingay, Lee Kitzis, Steven Moody, Dan Lynch, Derek Estes. Not pictured: Heidi Carter, Shane Hawkins, Lisa Inch, Tammy Leedle, Deb Pietrangelo, Marie Schieler, Maria Toyra, and Julie Wnuk.
Innovation Awards:
Brian Zinser of the College of Business (third photo below), for being the driving force behind the development and implementation of bachelor of applied science (BAS) in management degree program. The program prepares students for managerial careers in technical fields and offers a seamless transition from an applied associate degree in a technical field to a bachelor's degree.
Studio 102: A space that incorporates relatively new light board technology, along with VR and AR, enabling faculty to greatly enhance the online teaching/learning experience. Studio 102 team members pictured with Erickson in the fourth photo below are (back left to right): Steve VandenAvond, Evan Lucas, Matt Smock, Eric Smith, Stacey DeLoose; (front), Kim Hegmegee. Not pictured: Amy Barnsley and Mike Lakenen.
Excellence in Service Awards: The following individuals were honored for qualities they deliver on a regular basis, including a positive attitude, willingness to help and high-quality work. Pictured in the final group photo below are honorees Donald Korpi (Dining Services), Janelle Taylor (Graduate Education and Research), Kathleen Frazier (Controllers Office), Paul Schoonveld (Dining Services) and Patty Rizzio (NMU Police Department).
The final Excellence in Service Award winners, pictured in the last photos, are Mike Lozier (Intercollegiate Athletics-Volleyball) and Janice Nolan (Health Center Pharmacy).
NMU employees also were honored for years-of-service milestones and retirement at the event. Because ideas and suggestions from faculty and staff help to make such events successful, employees are asked to please complete one of the following brief Recognition Celebration Satisfaction Surveys.
Survey for those who attended the April 24th faculty and staff recognition celebration.
