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.
Individuals:
Alé Ruiz | Alex Baker | Amanda Allee | Ashley San Miguel | Deann Barrett | Joel Tonyan | Lindsay Coppa | Noelle San Souci | Rafael Norwood | Shelly Raney | Whitley Hadley
Teams:
Cody Parish and Boudewijn van Werven |
Kerisa Brown and Kimberly Knourek |
Milan Kosizek, Jordon Gershon, Harley Davidson, and Kate Hutnick
To: Alé Ruiz
From: Xuan Truong
What’s there to say about Alé? She’s been with UCCS for years, starting out in undergrad before building essential foundations of care and support for this university on her way up to graduate student-now alumni, and full-time staff coordinator here in the MOSAIC Office. If someone were to ask me on who is the funniest person in office, it’d be Alé (don’t tell that to her student staff member, Kane). If you were also to ask me on who’s ready to support and advocate for our student populations with dedication and earnest, it would also be Alé. And if you were to ask me on who can assist with technology (something that the full time staff tends to struggle with), Alé is already at the laptop troubleshooting with a sigh.
To: Alex Baker
From: Colleen Stiles
Alex has been a portal for me to bounce ideas, vent, get advice, and also innovative solutions to difficult problems. Alex is truly a leader with students and faculty.
To: Amanda Allee
From: Colleen Stiles
Amanda brings to the table 100% of herself to help kids. I have seen her do it over and over again. Amanda is fair, smart, and dedicated. UCCS is better off with her leadership.
To: Ashley San Miguel
From: Xuan Truong
Ash came to the MOSAIC Office from Student and Family Connections as the new First2GO coordinator and it’s as though she never arrived as a newcomer. She slotted in perfectly with our little MOSAIC Office with her charm and humor, and repeatedly showed herself to be a pillar of the first generation community through her undying support of the First2GO program, empathy for the students, and driven need to assist and support the UCCS community. Her work needs to be acknowledged because I am always in awe of her every single day.
To: Deann Barrett
From: Anonymous
Deann is the President of Staff Council and has been an advocate for all staff on campus. She tirelessly and skillfully navigates through difficult challenges and is working to foster an inclusive environment for staff. Her leadership and dedication as staff council president make her the person you can go to when you need to talk, bring up issues for staff on campus, or submit ideas for how staff council can be better. Way to go!
To: Joel Tonyan
From: Colleen Stiles
Joel has been the Bachelor of Innovation librarian for so many years I can’t count. He probably can’t count how many Bachelor of Innovation students he has helped. Joel partnered with the Bachelor of Innovation in Technical Writing, Presentations, and Proposals course to provide research expertise. We call him the secret sauce. I am retiring, Joel so glad you are here for students! and me…..
To: Lindsay Coppa
From: Ann Amicucci
Thank you to Lindsay for her outstanding leadership of this year’s CRCW presentations! Lindsay thought of everything in organizing the event and hosted a welcoming and supportive event for researchers.
To: Noelle San Souci
From: Brad Bayer
Noelle recently led the charge to bring the 1st Annual Clydechella Concert to campus on April 24th. Utilizing student interest, the band Almost Monday performed as the headliner, along with some very engaging opening performers. There was intentional design to host the concert in the Village at Alpine Valley housing quad, and a new collaboration with Residence Life and Housing has developed. The concert was a huge success with 429 unique UCCS students in attendance, 51 guests, and 20 staff. Overall attendance reached 500!
To: Rafael Norwood
From: Xuan Truong
Rafael is a human-driven spirit of true character, care, and advocacy. Besides his impeccable work in advancing equity for our UCCS populations on campus, he also continues to show up as both a source of comfort and safety for so many students and identity groups here at UCCS. He is also one ‘heck’ of a coworker to work alongside with humor and grace here at the MOSAIC office.
To: Shelly Raney
From: Jerilyn Taylor
Shelly and the HR Service Center have taken on several large clean up projects this year. This is work that is generally not visible to those outside of the department, but is very important for compliance and they make a difference for the department. She has taken on these projects and figured out how to manage them piece by piece and create procedures to ensure the information is correct going forward. These projects can be difficult and repetitive, and she has completed them with grace.
To: Whitley Hadley
From: Xuan Truong
I cannot possibly describe Whitley and her work besides absolute and pure selfless. Whitley is a true advocate and fighter for her community, and has shown from time and time again of her utmost dedication to not just UCCS but her native Colorado Springs. She leads her MOSAIC team with love and grace, and everyone can attest to her brilliance and unconditional care for the members under her guidance and mentorship. UCCS is simply made better in all ways with Whitley at the helm.
To: Cody Parish and Boudewijn van Werven
From: Brad Bayer
Cody and Bou have done an exceptional job this year with scholarship fundraising for the Chancellor’s Leadership Class (CLC). Recently, CLC was a featured scholarship program in the UCCS Carry the Light Campaign, and they effectively deployed a successful messaging campaign with all stakeholders (alumni, board members, past donors, staff, faculty, and students) leading up to the UCCS Carry the Light event, collaborated with internal and external partners, and received high kudos on how the CLC campaign was an excellent example to follow. The original goal was to raise funding for one CLC scholarship. At the end of the campaign, funding for nearly two full scholarships was realized!
To: Kerisa Brown and Kimberly Knourek
From: Laura Austin-Eurich
The Communication Department hosted the premiere of The Bluffs and other digital filmmaking students work at Ivywild on Friday night. Kerisa and Kimberly came to see the work of the students they advise and were there for the entirety of the event – nearly four hours! The students and the DFM faculty really appreciated having them there.
To: Milan Kosizek, Jordon Gershon, Harley Davidson, and Kate Hutnick
From: Colleen Stiles
This team of four students led the Bachelor of Innovation 20th Celebration and Reunion. They planned, recruited volunteers, the DJ, The Rory Lewis Band, and negotiated with the venue – Phil Long Music Hall. We had 650 people, representatives from every Bachelor of Innovation graduating class, faculty and families. Alums brought spouses, babies, and lots of ideas! Incredible night by all. Thanks to the team that made it all happen.
Submit Kudos
Want to celebrate your staff colleagues? Submit kudos anytime through the Staff Association website. Communique publishes Clyde’s Kudos each month.