Waubonsee Community College recently recognized support staff employees in their first Support Staff Awards for Excellence. Three honorees were announced during campus-wide ceremonies this month.
The college received more than 60 total nominations for the categories of Service and Quality, Diversity and Equity, and Innovation and Creativity. The winners are: Faustina Sepulveda-De Patino, Custodian, recognized with the Support Staff Award for Excellence in Service and Quality; Dr. David Beer, Career and Technical Education Analyst, was recognized with the Support Staff Award for Excellence in Diversity and Equity; Kendall Vance, Resource Sharing Specialist, was recognized with the Support Staff Award for Excellence in Innovation and Creativity.
The Support Staff Award for Excellence in Service and Quality was created to recognize a staff member who exemplifies excellence in delivering outstanding quality service in working and communicating with others internally or externally. Sepulveda-De Patino’s nominator said that she “possesses all the qualities of an outstanding staff member,” and that she always gets her work done and often does extra work.
Also nominated in that category were: Sue Baier, Betty Bechtold, Pablo Castanon, Esmerelda “Meddi” Delgado, Amanda Eberlein, Esther Espino, Shannon Flavin-Cox, Zachary Fowler, Linda Frieders, Donna Larkin, Jessica Menez, Jeanine Niedzwiedz, Julie Peck, Mark Salem, Earl Shumaker, Dawn Sparks, Scott Strain, Terri Swanson, Kathy Thomas, Diana Torres, Kendall Vance, Kathy Wall, Chris Wise, Monica Woodward.
The Support Staff Award for Excellence in Diversity and Equity was created to recognize a staff member who exemplifies excellence in commitment to diversity, equity and inclusiveness. Beer’s nominator said that he has been “very conscientious in creating meaningful and impactful ways to improve non-traditional by gender participation and understanding across the college.”
Also nominated in that category were: James Kenney, Ellen Scalpelli, Bill Stefek, Ann Walder, Kisha White-Shepard, Lisa Egner and Kate Ragsdale.
The Support Staff Award for Excellence in Innovation and Creativity was created to recognize a staff member who exemplifies excellence in improving operating efficiency via creative and innovative channels. Vance’s nominator said that he “works tirelessly and, often, behind-the-scenes to keep much of the department’s tools working,” and regularly implements creative solutions for workflow.
Also nominated in that category were: Sue Baier, Danielle Depke, Sarah Dwinnells, Christopher Foster, Zachary Fowler, Julie Frankino, Bruce Geraghty, Sarah Kocunik, Sandra Miller, Don Wiercinski, Vicki Wittman, John Wohlers.
The three winners received a framed certificate, recognition at the Board of Trustees meeting, lunch with Waubonsee President Dr. Christine Sobek, and one day off with pay to be used within one year of the award.
