CAS Alumni and Employees Make a Difference
On Wednesday, December 4, Western Michigan University held its semiannual Make a Difference Reception. Out of eleven awardees, five have ties to the College of Arts and Sciences as alumni and employees. Winners include:
- Joanne Beverage, Department of English
- Bruce Carpenter '74 (chemistry), Department of Chemistry
- Myla Edmond, Office of the Dean
- Paul Hildenbrand '86 (public relations), Haworth College of Business
- Dorilee Schieble, Department of History
From left to right, Paul Hildenbrand, Myla Edmond, WMU President John Dunn, Joanne Beverage, Dorilee Schieble and Bruce Carpenter.
Joanne Beverage's nominator said that Beverage "has gone over and above the description of her position" since joining the Department of English. Beverage not only greets every student that enters the department and makes them feel comfortable, she also works well with faculty, graduate students and part-time instructors. Beverage is described as a great help and invaluable member of her department.
Finance specialist, Bruce Carpenter received multiple nominations that illustrated examples of his exceptional work. Carpenter is noted for having a rare commitment to Western Michigan University and its growth. By his example, Carpenter illustrates the important role that WMU staff members have in the lives of students and colleagues which positively impacts the work environment and attitude in the Department of Chemistry.
Like Carpenter, Myla Edmond had more than one nominator. Working in the College of Arts and Sciences Office of the Dean, Edmond is noted to be the first to volunteer and shows through her actions that exceeding expectations is the only way to ensure success. One colleague states that Edmond "is innovative and always has a solution." Edmond is said to have a contagious calm demeanor and "has the ability to walk into a room and lower the stress level significantly."
Paul Hildenbrand works in the Haworth College of Business, but is a public relations graduate of WMU. His nominator says Hildenbrand is directly responsible for increasing the number of transfer students who come to WMU. He is "always willing to lend a helping hand to improve the University and the student experience."An example of his commitment to improve the student experience, Hildenbrand recently sprear-headed a community service project that focused on providing support to veterans.
The phrase "not in my description" does not exist for Dorilee Schieble. When a task needs to be completed in the Department of History Schieble is not interested in determining who should do it. Instead she takes it on or tries to resolve issues directly. Her nominator states that her "attitude, skill set and intelligence" has her involved in a vast amount of projects. Schieble is considered "the most professional and effective staff person" one her nominators has encountered in more than fifteen years at WMU.
The Make A Difference award is a campus-wide peer-to-peer program that recognizes University staff members for their outstanding accomplishments and daily investment of energy and creativity. Every fall and spring, semiannual awards are presented to a maximum of 15 people. Those selected for the award receive a before-tax prize of $300 and a certificate. These semiannual award winners are then eligible for one of four annual Make a Difference awards that includes a before-tax prize of $1200 prize. Award winners are selected by a committee of peers from the participating employee groups of AFSCME, APA, MSEA, POA, and PSSO.