Applause Awardees-2007

January - DeAnna Larson, Chemistry

February - Brooke Glenn, Arts & Sciences Advising Center

March - Jamie Cruise, Modern Languages

April - Becky Carter, Arts & Sciences Dean Office

May - Amanda Penn Richardson, Bureau of Sociological Research

June - Jane Langan, Chemistry Department

July - Ha Nguyen, English Department

August - Beth Farleigh, Physics & Astronomy

September - Jonathan Skean, Chemistry

October - Mary Klucas, Arts & Sciences Dean Office

November - Deb Pinkelman, Biological Sciences

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DeAnna Larson

 With 25 nominations, our Applause goes out to DeAnna Larson in Chemistry. As only a small part of her nominations say, "DeAnna has worked in the Chemistry Department Recruiting office since the summer of 2005. She has taken on many new challenges in the recruiting office and has performed outstandingly. DeAnna's work requiires a great amount of multi-tasking and she is able to juggle countless needs of faculty, graduate students, and staff needs throughout her day... DeAnna is the Excel spreadsheet queen-managing huge amounts of data, making sure students are paid on time and hundreds of applications are complete and accurate. Best of all she does it all with efficiency, effectiveness, dedication, reliability, caring and a very enjoyable sense of humor... She stays ahead of student's needs, efficiently solving problems often before the student involved is aware of them... DeAnna is an outstanding woman with a tremendous heart. She loves her job and gives 110% everyday. She is always helpful and is more than willing to answer any questions I have ever had - and if she doesn't know the answer, she finds out while I'm still in her office. She cares about every grad student and takes the time to know not only our names but also our stories... Moving to Nebraska and becoming a first-year graduate student at UNL has been a challenge, but one that was made much easier by the hard work of DeAnna. DeAnna has been extremely friendly and always willing to go above and beyond to help... I am relatively new to the department and DeAnna went out of her way to make sure I felt welcome not only on a professional level but a personal one as well... It was very nice to meet such a friendly face when I was going through orientation... From the time she entered the department, she has strived relentlessly to fulfill her duties beyond the job description and expectation of indiviuals around her, making sure that no detail is ever overlooked... She is always there to listen and assist the students in any way. We currently have close to 100 graduate students in our department who Deanna assists. The new International students are welcomed and given helpful tips about housing in Lincoln, fun things to do and see, and introduced to other students with similar interests and backgrounds to make them feel at ease when arriving. They immediately form a friendship and close bond with Deanna... Her friendly and positive attitude is a great asset to the Chemistry Department. She also is a fantastic artist, and assists in any creative project we send her way... DeAnna Larson has been very helpful to me since my arrival in the Chemistry Department 2 months ago... DeAnna Larson always likes to help me when I have some problems... Innovative ideas, consistently outstanding performance, AND service above and beyond the call of duty describe DeAnna's efforts on the Chemistry Graduate Admissions and Recruiting Committee... DeAnna Larson makes dealing with potentially annoying things pleasant... She is friendly, always has a smile on her face, and is always willing to make time for you, no matter how much she has going on. And I know that she has a lot going on. Not that she would say so. She always makes juggling all her work look easy... I'm impressed with how polite, helpful, efficient, and friendly she manages to be time after time. We are lucky to have her in our department and I hope she receives the recognition she deserves. Thank you... Her extraordinary efforts deserve Applause!"

 

Brooke Glenn

Our Applause goes out to Brooke Glenn from the College Advising Center. As her nominations say, "Brooke livens up the place! She brings a fresh approach to undergraduate advising and a great compassion for students' concerns. I have known Brooke since 2005 when she started in the Advising Center as an Associate Adviser, and I have continuously been struck by her commitment to providing timely and useful services to our students. Brooke ascribes to a philosophy of student services that demands their meaningfulness to our students' lives. Further, she quickly moved into the role of Pre-Professional Adviser, one that requires many night and weekend activities, in addition to the one-on-one student meetings she conducts. I frequently hear Brooke say, "I love my job," and it is this enthusiasm which makes her stand out among our staff. In addition to her advising duties, Brooke has also been working to earn her Master's degree with a focus on student services...

"In the Arts and Sciences Advising center we have only two Pre-Professional advisers who main job is to cater to the student with Pre-Professional areas of interest (i.e. Pre Med, Pre Law, Pre Radiology, etc.) This is a demanding job, knowing all the requirements for each area, plus maintaining good relations with all the students... when it comes time for writing letters of recommendation, mock interviews and helping them to find a school that will best fit them after they have reached their goals and are ready to pursue a professional career... During another employee's recent maternity leave, Brooke took on additional responsibilities to make sure that pre-professional advising remained at a high quality level. In addition to being the only pre-professional advising specialist in the office during this period, she took on additional meetings and workshop responsibilities. This is only one example of Brooke's constant willingness to do more than what is required in her job. She always goes out of her way to see that things work smoothly in the Center...

"She maintains a positive attitude and great rapport with her students. Once advised by her, students wish to continue meeting with her. She is an integral member of the office team, always willing to pitch in, when and where help is needed... In addition to her career, Brooke has 2 beautiful children whom she treasures. She volunteers in their classrooms on a regular basis, bringing joy to not only her children but also a great number of children in the community... She knows her stuff and is always willing to help out in any way she can! I know that I can always count on Brooke. She truly goes above and beyond what is expected of her! ... She has a refreshing and energizing way about her that is wonderful. She knows how to have fun with her job, but also is very professional and respectable... She is a great asset to the Arts and Sciences Advising Center..."

Jamie Cruise

With 22 nominations, our Applause for March goes out to Jamie Cruise in Modern Languages. As a small part of her nominations say, "Jamie Cruise has done a superb job since joining the Department of Modern Languages in April of 2004. Originally hired as a receptionist, Jamie learned the ropes so quickly that we reclassified her position ... to that of Graduate Secretary and Editorial Assistant. In a department with over 50 graduate students as well as three journals, Jamie has mastered multi-tasking with style and professionalism. In her new roles, Jamie has revamped the filing system, applied new computer skills, and enhanced contact with other administrative units on campus. In addition, Jamie still handles much of the photocopying and walk-in traffic... Jamie has [now] taken on a new position, Secretary Specialist, in Modern Languages. Like everything else she does, Jamie took on these new responsibilites with enthusiasm. Jamie came into this position at a difficult time; the two secretarial positions in Modern Languages were vacant. Not only did she have to learn a new position, but also hire and train two new employees...

"Jamie's work ethic sets a standard for us all. She is always willing to take on new tasks or learn new skills. In addition to handling all the arrangements for multiple faculty searches, Jamie is training new office employees, handling our Departmental Language Fair, and streamlining scholarship procedures. In just a few months on the job, Jamie has evolved into a terrific event planner, and thanks to her expertise in this area, Modern Languages has been able to make itself more visible on campus... Jamie Cruise is just OUTSTANDING, not only as a secretary but as someone who really cares about people... I appreciate her patience with all of the staff in our department. She fields so many questions each day, often dealing with the same subject over and over again, but never loses her cool. That takes a special person... Thanks for all you do, Jamie! ... She is awesome! Always going an extra mile to help all teachers and students with their needs... I am still amazed to see her smile at 7:30 in the morning and see the level of energy she sustains all day... We are extremely lucky to have her! ... She greets everyone by name and with a big smile--I can't imagine this department without her... I just joined the Modern Languages department and Jamie Cruise really helped my transition immensely. Having been with the department before as a lecturer, I must say I've never seen it run so smoothly as it does with Jamie's organization and attention to detail...

"She will never tell you she is too busy to stop doing what she is doing to help you (but I know for a fact she is always busy) and whatever it is you need, she will fix it right away or find the right person who can do it. She took over her new position very professinally and made us feel as if she had been doing it forever. All in all, Jamie is a colleague you want to have around to cheer you up, to help you, to talk to, to share your success, and much more... To say that Jamie goes beyond the call of duty is an understatement. She will literally stop what she is doing to help you. I cannot tell you the amount of times that she has saved my life in the time of real need... She brings so much knowledge and resource to our department because she has literally worked every position in our office. In my humble opinion, she is so deserving of this award, and so much more. She is the glue that binds our department!... I don't know how else to put it, but Jamie ROCKS! ... Jamie is most deserving of this Applause award, so everyone knows that she is constantly going above and beyond the call of duty!"

Becky Carter

Our Applause for April goes out to Becky Carter, Dean Hoffmann's assistant. As her nominations say, "Becky Carter has been with the Dean's Office for three years. Her positive attitude and smile is felt by everyone in the office. As a supervisor, she aids the staff in meeting their goals by sending us to seminars or training us herself. She truly cares that we meet our goals. She is also the office manager of several diverse areas within the Dean's Office. She does a tremendous job at keeping these areas informed of the happenings in the office. As office manager she is responsible for payroll, PAFs for student workers, staff meetings. Becky handles the unexpected with calmness and efficiency... She genuinely likes people. Recently she has been balancing promotion and tenure for the college, a complex schedule for a chair search, coordination of the United Way Campaign, hiring and orienting a new employee, and encouraging her coworkers to take advantage of the visit of Marcus Buckingham for professional growth. Never does a frown accompany her work. Becky gets my silent applause often...

"Becky has one of the most complicated jobs in the Dean's Office--she has to manage the Dean's schedule, supervise the office staff, handle faculty files related to promotion, and many other things. She manages to do all of that in a competent fashion while remaining cheerful and upbeat. I believe her attitude is one of the reasons the Dean's office operates so well... Becky is great at bringing all the different personalities together. The "structured" and the "flexible" individuals all work well together under Becky's guidance. She works very well with the four deans and the visitors that come to the office. Her positive personality and sense of humor keeps the office flowing smoothly... You have to watch out for Becky Carter, too. We were all April Fooled, including Dean Hoffmann, last year... She is one of the "can-do" people in this office. If I ever have a question or need her assistance, she is immediately available. She has helped me with computer programs, mailings, copying, scheduling, and so on--always with a smile. She consistently goes beyond the call of duty to ensure that everyone feels welcome and that everyone has the resources they need to succeed. She "woos" everyone with her friendly manner and her organizational skills...

"For the past few months, I was working with Becky as the chair of the search committee for the chemistry department chairperson. This was the second year of the search, and this year, Becky offered to set up the committee meetings and candidate visits. Becky's has shown tremendous dedication and commitment to the success of our search... [And this from the candidate] My applause goes to Becky Carter for her terrific work in taking care of me during my visits to UNL as a candidate for the position of Chair of the Chemistry Department and Professor of Chemistry. Becky is very personable and courteous; speaking with her on the phone immediately inspires confidence that issues will be handled promptly and responsibly... All I know is that the schedule was flawless and my visit proceeded like clockwork. I can honestly say that I have never visited an institution where my schedule has been handled in such a detailed and professional manner. My second visit to Lincoln occurred soon after a major snowstorm, so Becky made sure to send me her home phone and cell phone numbers in case I encountered travel problems en route. From my perspective as a visitor to your campus, Becky has been an outstanding representative of your institution..."

Amanda Penn Richardson

Our Applause for May goes out to Amanda Penn Richardson from Sociology, actually the Bureau of Sociological Research. As her nominations say, "Amanda is truely an asset to our department. We recently moved across campus to a new building. Amanda coordinated all the details of the move - no small task! Everything went off without a hitch. Because of her hard work and dedication our transition was as smooth as it could possibly be. Amanda consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. She is also one of the friendliest people I know. Her smile is contagious! She has the perfect balance of a friendly, outgoing attitude and a goal-oriented, hard working spirit...

"Amanda has been working at the BOSR for almost four years, longer than my own official capacity with the BOSR. I was fortunate to come in as director and to have an excellent survey research team in place. Amanda has been central to our success and growth because she takes care of things. Once she is in charge of a project, I know that it will be taken care of... When we learned the good news that we'd have more space for the BOSR because we'd be moving to Benton I was excited and anxious. The many details involved with the move were overwhelming to me. At the same time we were undergoing tremendous personell changes as well. I asked Amanda to be in charge of the move, and to involve me as necessary. Amanda took on this overwhelming task and accomplished it as she does all things - with perserverence (many calls to the phone department, crawling up in the ceiling to get electrical information, working with the furniture folks, painters, movers). All of this work was on top of her regular duties. It seemed as if not one aspect of the move was "standard" or smooth. Yet Amanda stayed on top of it, trouble shooting when necessary, and was a big part of helping to make sure that the move would not disrupt our deadlines or taking care of client's projects. Her efforts in this area were clearly outside of her normal survey operations duties - requiring that she use ingenuity, creativity and perserverence to get a new survey research lab up and running with almost no lost research time. We think she's an exemplar of a "beyond and above" university employee who takes responsibility for our goals and helps to make sure we are successful...

"As our primary project manager, she oversees and is responsible for the majority of our data collection research projects. As a small organization, we do a large amount of work and Amanda is key in our successful completion of projects. She's in a position that isn't easily noticed by others or that receives much acknowledgment, but is essential to keeping the BOSR chugging along. She is always the first one in the office in the morning and typically stays late to help get our telephone interviewing staff settled for their nightly shift. She often takes work related calls at night and on the weekends and has an amazing ability to think ahead of problems before they cause us headaches down the road... She is the first one in and the last one to leave the office. Her work ethic is admirable. If someone needs help, she helps, if there is a vacancy within the department, she volunteers her time to help with the job duties associated to that vacancy, her tempermant is always even whether it's an extremely busy and highly stressful situation or an easy going day... She is a joy to work with..."

Jane Langan

With 11 nominations, our Applause awardee for June is Jane Langan in Chemistry. As her nominations say, "Jane Langan has been one of the most dedicated members of the Chemistry Department staff, working tirelessly and professionally to maintain accurate and up to date accounting records for the purchasing office. It seems like she works long days, arriving early, leaving late and hardly pausing for lunch. She always remains cheerful, and volunteers to assist with any official certification needed in her capacity as a notary public, as well...

"Jane Langan is the type of person that any department would relish to have on their team. She is efficient and extremely devoted to helping assist get the job done... If she is supposed to meet with you at 3:30 she is there ahead of time. She always champions the department and helps promote positive impressions to not only other staff but all of the faculty and grad students that she works with as well. On a personal note, she has always been there with a kind and compassionate word, wanting to make sure that all is well with you... Anyone who has worked with Jane knows that she goes the extra mile to get the job done no matter what time of the day. She is a team player and is always willing to help everyone. Jane is always willing to take on new and additional jobs without ever hearing a complaint... She is always pleasant to work with, handles last minute rush orders with a pleasant attitude and seems to always get her work completed despite having some serious peak loads to deal with... Her efforts truly help this department to function at its best. She definitely deserves recognition for her hard work...

"Jane is steadfast and true. Nobody ever has to worry about what Jane does - she is one of the most dependable people I've ever worked with. She particularly deserves recognition because she is not a self-promoter. When co-worker absence adds to her duties she remains calm and cheerful... Jane always has a cheerful disposition... She always greets you with a warm smile and a friendly hello when she arrives for work. She has a positive attitude and a willingness to help in any way possible. Jane is a dedicated employee who takes her job very seriously... Somehow Jane has a internal tracking device which allows her to find old purchase orders, requisitions, and problem orders in just seconds... I think she has magical powers or something... She is the reason our team is a successful one... You can always count on her to work out problems in a professional and positive way. She's cordial, gives her best, and goes out of her way to help everyone as quckly as possible with their needs. With Jane in Purchasing our Department runs much more efficiently...

"Jane is always thorough and efficient when involved in the tasks. Not only is she an excellent employee, she is also extremely kind and compassionate. She is the first to offer a smile when meeting in the hallway and always inquires as to how you are doing and even remembers important birthdays and anniversarys of other staff members. She cares about other people and that makes for a very pleasant work environment..."

Ha Nguyen

Our Applause awardee for July is Ha Nguyen, a Dean's Office computer technician assigned to English. As his nominations say, "As the computer tech in the English Dept., Ha Nguyen is doing a fantastic job... Although Ha has been here only a short time, he has quickly earned a reputation as a problem solver, and the faculty and staff in the department rely on him to handle any technical issues quickly and efficiently. We feel very fortunate to have such a pleasant and capable computer tech in our department...

"I can honestly say that Ha is by far the most competent, conscientious, and personable tech support person we have had over the years. Not only is he prompt in analyzing and solving computer problems for teaching and office staff, he has been building and restoring computers from available parts, supplemented by inexpensively acquired ones, thus saving the department valuable technology funds. This was done at his own suggestion and initiative. We hope to retain Ha's services for as long as it will be possible to keep a person of his talent and character... he has provided the department's technology committee with excellent advice; he communicates articulately with the faculty in a way that educates them on technology issues, and he's very pleasant and easy to work with!..."

"He is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. He responds to our needs in a timely and professional manner, and he freely offers advice and help whenever he is around, and he is around daily. Ha is a very cordial person and fits in very well with our department... We want to make sure he understands how much we appreciate him... he has worked with more than 140 faculty and staff in maintaining and troubleshooting our computer needs. I know any time my computer is not working I can call Ha and within minutes he is at my desk and the problem is solved... He recommended what type of flat screen monitors we should purchase, upgraded our graduate student PCs, and updated our inventory of computers. Ha sees what needs to be done and does it. We are fortunate to have him in our department..."

Beth Farleigh

Our Applause for August goes out to Beth Farleigh in Physics & Astronomy. As her nominations say, "Beth is the Chair's assistant and manager of the administrative office which includes 3 people. She has been great support for all of us in the front office. She has made herself extremely knowledgeable in all the programs, procedures and duties that are the responsibilities of this office (as well as accepting duties and responsibilities from the business office). When presented with a problem or question by staff, Beth will immediately search for and find the solution or answer. She is patient and courteous in explaining new procedures and always ready to accommodate us when requests for appointments, vacation, or illnesses arise; when overloads in one area occur, she is always ready and willing to step in to help...

"I work across the hall from Beth in the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience. Beth is extremely knowledgeable about University policies and procedures, and I am constantly going to her for information, clarification, and help in fumbling through the University system. Beth has helped me numerous times, even though I am not officially in her Department, and I am most appreciative of her efforts. She is always pleasant and helpful, and I can't think of a more deserving person to receive the Applause Award... Beth is a great support person for the everyone in the Physics and Astronomy Department and the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience... She also assists the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience with appointments and retroactive changes. Beth is always willing to check the status of an appointment and follow up on unresolved issues. Beth is also extremely knowledgeable in various software programs utilized by the department and is willing to work with staff in creating programs to increase the efficiency of the department. Beth deserves the applause of the whole Physics & Astronomy Department along with the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience...

"She has a vast knowledge of the computer & is always willing to share her knowledge with anyone who might need help. She shares willingly & always with a smile. She makes herself always available to anyone that might need her assistance. She is my boss & after working in the business world for more than 30 years she is right at the top to receive "Best Boss of the Year" award. Way to go Beth... "

Jonathan Skean

With 11 nominations, our Applause goes out to Jonathan Skean in Chemistry. As a small part of his nominations say, "Jonathan Skean is one of the most experienced staff members in the Department of Chemistry. His work in our Electronics Shop brings him into contact with a wide range of "customers": faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, staff, and even a few people from outside the university. With expertise in both traditional electronics as well as computing (hardware, software, servers, Web site maintenance), Jonathan often faces a wide array of technical challenges in any given day. Difficult challenges, short deadlines, and frustrated computer users-he sees it all. What is most amazing is the combination of poise and tenacity Jonathan brings to solving a problem. No matter how difficult the situation or how frazzled the customer, Jonathan keeps his poise while he works the problem through to a solution. His skill, experience, and work ethic are a real asset to the Department and the University...

"Even though he probably had a thousand other things to do he could tell that I desperately needed him to make my project a priority. He took everything that needed to be done in stride, he never complained and he relieved my stress by taking care of it in such a professional manner... Jonathan definitely gets my Applause each and every day... People come into the office and of course their problem with their computer is the most important at that time, Jonathan handles everyone's concerns in a professional manner... Jonathan always has a good story to lighten up the day... When I snarl up my computer he can fix it in no time. His all around knowledge is amazing. He is always cheerful, friendly and has a geniune interest in people. He is a great asset to the department...

"Jonathan is always pleasant and willing to taken on the projects that are handed to him. He has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to squeeze rush projects into an already very full schedule and put in an extra effort to make sure the project is properly completed... He has become very astute at getting operating systems other than Windows installed on PCs. That includes two Linux installations on computers in my group. Jonathan is wonderfully flexible when it comes to taking on new tasks. By flexible I mean a willingness to take on new challenges and to so in a most pleasant manner. I think we often [make] too many demands on him but he never complains. Without Jonathan the Chemistry Department Faculty would be much less productive...

"Jonathan is not one of the highly visible people of the department, but is one of the people that keep the department functioning. Jonathan is a hard working, calm figure in a sea of endless emergencies that is often chaotic. He deals with the various demands of maintainance and the creation of electronic equipment that is needed by the department to function in today's world of research and communication, equipment that is stressed and destroyed on a regular basis by less skilled users... He smiles and tells a joke or story and goes about his business of solving the next emergency on his never shrinking list of priority tasks..."

Mary Klucas

Mary Klucas first won our Applause in June 2001. She won an annual award in 2004 and finally she is our Applause awardee for October. As her new nominations say, "From my first day in Arts & Sciences, Mary has been a smiling face. She has always presented herself in a professional manner. As the end of the year ordering approached, and NSE processing taking up most of my time, Mary jumped right in and helped me run through all of the supplies I needed to check on. She eagerly did the requisitions, even at the end of the last day, to ensure the funds came out of the proper fiscal year. She also volunteered to come to our office to get the necessary information when I was unable to leave my desk. I never heard a grumble from her and for that, I say Thank You Mary Klucas! Thanks Mary for being a team player with a wonderful attitude...

"Mary Klucas is definitely deserving of Applause. She is one of the most organized, efficient, and energetic people I know. Throughout the past year, she has helped me to understand the work of the Dean's office and has facilitated my work in every way. She has a detailed understanding of curriculum processes and pays attention to the most minute detail to ensure that the undergraduate and graduate bulletins are current and understandable. She is always on top of deadlines, and she seeks out new ways to communicate with faculty about such deadlines to ensure that students' needs are being met ( re: undergraduate honors and distinctions, scholarships, theses requirements, etc.). Mary is also very personable and makes the workplace a fun and welcoming environment. She has made my transition to the Dean's office smooth and enjoyable and she is definitely worthy of Applause!..."

Deb Pinkelman

Our Applause for November goes out to Deb Pinkelman in Biological Sciences. As her nominations say, "For years Deb Pinkelman has labored in the obscurity of the basement. She is in charge of the department stockroom. This is a job that when done well is not seen. It is only when gloves are not in stock or Petri plates are not available that people recognize the importance of a smoothly run stockroom operation. The stockroom runs like a general store. Deb has to evaluate the products that are stocked. Some items are in regular demand while others fall out of use. This includes a variety of chemicals and lab supplies but also batteries of several sorts. She has to make the stocking decisions and also keep track of billing for the purchases. Deb is the receiver for all the deliveries made to the department. Almost everything used in Manter Hall has passed her scrutiny. The shipments of reagents on dry ice that have to get to the ! researcher quickly, live material such as crickets and spiders, and expensive equipment all have to received and delivered to the right person. In addition to these duties Deb is running the safety program for Manter Hall. She organizes the meetings and coordinates events with the EHS. One of her initiatives last year was to provide fire exit information for all rooms. This meant labeling plans for each of the floors with the exit locations, the places for safety showers, fire extinguishers and customizing them for each room. Deb has stepped in to help when a new purchasing clerk needed extra training. She spent time, gave suggestions and helped to get the person on track. Deb gave her assistance willingly. Deb is a cheerful and delightful person to have in the department."