Northwestern Honors Employees During 2024 Recognition Ceremony
November 26, 2024
Slideshow of various award winners
Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s employees were honored during the annual Employee Service Recognition Ceremonies Nov. 20-21. Ceremonies took place in Alva and Enid to honor employees who work at Alva, Enid and Woodward campus locations.
Dr. Jason Wickham, professor of chemistry, received the John Barton Distinguished Teaching and Service Award.
“The purpose of this award is to honor distinguished teaching as well as service to the university, local, state and national organizations,” Dr. James Bell, Northwestern's vice president for academic affairs, said. “John Barton’s examples of service, distinguished teaching and administrative leadership are the criteria emulated by the recipient of this prestigious award.”
Nominations for the award are made by faculty, staff and students, then the recipient is determined by a selection committee. To be selected, the recipient must be a full-time faculty member at Northwestern.
Markangela Kinnett, secretary and the health and safety assistant for the maintence department, received the Thelma Crouch Staff Employee of the Year Award.
“This year’s recipient, in their nomination letter, was described as ‘a person that makes things happen behind the scenes,’” Dr. David Pecha, Northwestern executive vice president said. “This individual is the first contact when something goes wrong on campus. Having worked at Northwestern for 18 years, anytime something breaks, your heat and air is not working, or you need a vehicle from the university fleet, you typically reach out to this year’s recipient for help.”
Members of Kinnett’s family and several close friends surprised her at the ceremony.
This award was established to recognize exceptional performance and/or service by a member of the Northwestern staff. The recipient of this award shows dedication to Northwestern and its students. The Student Government Association accepts nominations for this award and then determines the recipient.
Dr. Steven Maier, dean of faculty, presented the third annual outstanding adjunct faculty member award to Jim Hunt, who has served as the Northwestern Social Science Department’s adjunct instructor of geography since 2010.
“(Hunt) has always expressed a willingness within the department to teach classes each semester both via ITV, while commuting a substantial distance to the Woodward campus, and online, including an online course each summer,” Maier said. “Recently, he has enhanced his effective use of Zoom in his course instruction incorporating hybrid teaching components into his class. More importantly, he fills a crucial niche in the department, as it is increasingly difficult to find and retain qualified instructors in the field of geography.”
Employees who were honored for their years of service are listed by name and job title:
Five-year service recognition: Lindsey Cherry, English education program coordinator and instructor of English; Sarah Fletcher, student support services project adviser; Dr. Sarah Fry, assistant professor of criminal justice and sociology; Mickey Jordan, director of technical theatre and Fellers Family Auditorium facilities manager; Dr. Piper Robida, associate professor of biology; Lisa Vermillion, director of purchasing; and Dr. Robert Vest, associate professor of Spanish.
10-year service recognition: John Allen, director of alumni relations; Melissa Brown, Northwestern Graduate Studies enrollment and retention coordinator; Cheryl Ellis, human resources director; Shawna Gilbert, access services librarian and assistant professor of library science; Tara Hannaford, financial aid and scholarship director; Jeffery Lee, maintenance; Vannessa Nelson, travel and insurance clerk; Lawana Newell, instructor of music; Jana Pittman, instructor of history; and Dr. Jennifer Sattler, department of natural science chair and professor of physics.
15-year service recognition: Kaylyn Hansen, director of assessment and institutional effectiveness and academic support; Dr. Shane Hansen, health and sports science chair and instructor of health and sports science education; and Dr. Shawn Holiday, associate dean of graduate studies and professor of English.
20-year service recognition: Monty Herren, director of plant operations.
25-year service recognition: Steve Sneary, Northwestern Farm manager and instructor of agriculture; Teri Warren, assistant registrar and admissions coordinator.
35-year service recognition: Valarie Case, assistant director of university relations.
Kaylyn Hansen presented service learning awards on behalf of the Service Learning/Civic Engagement committee. Those being honored include:
Greatest Student Involvement Award: Dr. Nicholas Ledbetter, assistant professor of biology, “Science Fair Judging and Regional Science Fair” - given to employees who had the greatest student involvement in a project. Ledbetter held a regional science fair for multiple local public schools. Students helped organize the fair and served as the judges. They selected winners and provided feedback for each participant.
Greatest Community Impact Award: Steve Sneary, Oklahoma State Fair Livestock Judging - The students assisted many K-12-aged students in acquiring skills useful in the livestock industry in the future.
Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Roger Brown, professor of business, the Business, Society and Government class and the Woodward Food Bank - given to an employee whose commitment to service sets a high standard in Service Learning while promoting the meaning of service learning and civic engagement. Students impacted the community by helping various individuals who face struggles and suffering on a day to day basis.
Most Inventive Project: Dr. Mindi Clark, General Horticulture, “Plants for the Campus & Community” - given to a faculty or staff member who had a unique, creative project. Students in the class, planted, transplanted, cared for, and delivered the plants grown for campus and for the community garden. They also donated the remaining plants to early childhood education efforts.
Applaud Award: Carli Baxter, division of business secretary, and the Ranger Business Club, “Leaf-ing and Impression” - given to a club/organization that shows the greatest overall effort, participation and hard work. Leaf-ing an Impression was a community service event performed to give back to the community of Alva and help elderly citizens. Starting at 8 a.m., numerous students showed up to help rake, bag and dispose of leaves that were piling up at citizens' homes. Students cleaned up many yards that morning, swept off ramps for wheel-chaired citizens and even disposed of a dead cat for one elderly couple.
Most Expressive Award: Enid Leadership Council, “Community Easter Egg Hunt” - given to a club/organization that had a unique project/event. The Enid Leadership Council bought and stuffed approximately 3,000 eggs and provided food, games, prizes, and face-painting for the kids that attended. This project was a good way to get families actively involved with their children.
perSERVEring Ranger Award: Dr. KeEra Byrd and Dr. Sierra Elsey, assistant professors of nursing, and the Student Nurses Association - given to an organization for its extraordinary service and serving in multiple community service projects throughout the year. The Northwestern Student Nurses Association volunteered for numerous community service projects including volunteering at the Homecoming Handwashing event, participating in Kindness Day, hosting a Mental Health Walk, Blood Drive and CPR/AED Training, volunteering at a local fire department fundraiser, and much more.
Brown also presented Diversity Initiative recognitions to: Dr. Kaylene Armstrong, associate professor of mass communication and Northwestern News adviser; Alan ‘Skeeter’ Bird, chief executive officer for the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association; Angelia Case, academic projects assistant/media specialist; Dr. Leslie Collins, chair of Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing and associate professor of nursing; Thomas Cornell, assistant professor of visual arts; Summer Foster, instructor of education; Paige Fischer, bursar and Miss Northwestern pageant director; Dr. Jerry Gustafson, professor of business; Dr. Roger Hardaway, professor of history; Codi Harding, assistant professor of social work and director of field experience; Dr. Eduardo Moreira, assistant professor of music; Victoria Moreira, adjunct instructor of music; Dr. Jen Oswald, chair of the division of education and associate professor of education; Max Ridgway, adjunct instructor of music; Dr. Dean Scarbrough, chair of the agriculture department and professor of agriculture; Dr. Eric Schmaltz, chair of the department of social sciences and professor of history; Evan Vaverka, instructor of computer science and Northwestern Esports adviser; Kimberly Weast, chair of the Reichenberger Department of Fine Arts and professor of theatre arts; Baxter, Cherry, Jordan, Newell and Vest.
Maier also presented Retention and Enrollment awards to: Tamara Brown, chair of the communication department and assistant professor of speech; Dr. Roxie James, chair of the English, foreign language and humanities department and associate professor of English; Dr. Taylor Randolph, chair of the psychology department and assistant professor of psychology; Dr. Kylene Rehder, chair of the department of social work and professor of social work; Dr. Mary Riegel, professor of mathematics; Dana Roark, instructor of business; Collins, Fry, Gilbert, Shane Hansen, Jordan, Oswald, Robida and Scarbrough.
Tandy Keenan, director of sponsored programs, announced Northwestern received 26 grants, totaling $2.7 million, 17 of which Northwestern employees applied for outside of normal job duties.
Several employees also were recognized during the ceremony for their service to the Faculty Senate, Staff Council and Professional Staff Council.
At the Enid campus ceremony, employees were recognized for their service.
Images from the ceremonies may be found online https://www.flickr.com/photos/nwosu-rangers/albums
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