Staff Senate
The University of Montana
Shelley Hiniker, President
(406) 243-6643
Kudos Archive
Q
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Diane Rapp
Administrative Assistant, History Department
Diane is not only an asset to the History Department, but she is also an incredible asset to the students. Diane helps students to interface with the History Department. She is very easy to get along with and shows genuine concern for helping students to get questions answered and problems solved. She juggles many different schedules and management issues and still manages to give students the impression that their problem is important, and she spends as much time as is needed to take care of their problems.
Diane is the sharpest pair of scissors to use when navigating the morass of the forms and information the student needs. On top of all this, she volunteers for search committees and other departmental services while still performing her secretarial duties above and beyond the norm. Diane is an amazing woman who deserves recognition.
Submitted by Sarah Jennings and Dylan Hendrickson, History students
And another...
Diane is a great team player. She has helped me to get the KUDOs that need to be edited and ready to be posted on the Staff Senate web site. If it wasn't for her, I would not be able to obtain those KUDOs, and staff would not have them up on the web.
Thank you, Diane, for being a great team player and a great part of the Communication/Visibility Committee!
Submitted by Renee Valley, Media Editor, Athletic Department
And another...
Diane has been a true gem within the history dept. She wears many hats. Diane has been personal counselor, academic advisor, political cohort, professor, cheerleader, and most of all, humanist. She not only performs her job but she does it with such ease that no question or problem feels too stupid or insurmountable. She is like a den mother for the history dept. I owe her not only a thousand Kudos but also my success at this institution.
If she were my faculty secretary, I would give her a raise and then vote her in for Dennison's job! Diane Rapp for University President!
Submitted by Maura Ganz, student
Sarah Raymond
Program Coordinator, Career Services
During the last few years I have admired Sarah's enthusiasm for our students and her efforts to help them secure promising jobs. In all of my conversations with her she demonstrates a strong interest in our programs and is continually seeking ways to promote Career Services to our students.
This represents a small thank you for her efforts.
Submitted by Cameron Lawrence, School of Business Faculty
Nancy Richardson
Accounting Associate in Academic Affairs
Nancy is the most supportive person in our office. She always has a quick smile and knows what to say to help people. We are so lucky to have her as part of our staff!
Submitted by Darlene, Academic Affairs
Laura Riddle
Graduations Director, Graduate School
Laura is delightfully competent in everything that she does. She is always willing to answer any graduate school-related questions. Laura has a wonderful sense of humor. I am very appreciative of her efforts in coaching me in my role as graduate studies coordinator. Kudos to Laura!
Submitted by Betsy Bach, Communications Studies Faculty.
And another...
During the pursuit of my graduate degree, I have had many hurdles to overcome. Each hurdle has been accompanied by a flurry of back-and-fourth paperwork inclusive of degree extensions, late registrations, graduate committee changes, etc... I always found myself in Laura's office when I had problems. Ultimately, I could not have overcome such issue without Laura's help.
She has relentlessly ushered me toward degree finalization, offering clear and concise guidance at every step of the way. She has always tackled my problems with professionalism, politeness, and without throwing inanimate objects at me (I don't think I could have had such self-control). I just wanted to thank Laura, as she has always taken personal interest in my degree, providing an optimistic and friendly attitude toward resolving my problems. I consider myself lucky to have had her help.
Submitted by Ethan Mace, Graduate Student
Sue Rufus
Financial Aid Specialist, Financial Aid Department.
I just think Miss Sue Rufus deserves kudos. I was saddened to hear today, that after almost 16 years at her post, she will be relocating to Kansas City to be closer to her family. A decision, of course, motivated by the thing that makes Sue so great: her big heart!
During my last year and a half as a work study employee in the Financial Aid Office, Sue has been a joy to work for. She has an amazing ability to take the most mundane office task (filing, anyone?) and make it into a fun afternoon. I've never seen anything like it. In the few moments that she is not busying herself with Special Condition letters and Graduate Loan requests, she is being helpful to students on the phone. Crying, angry, confused students! Not once have I heard her be anything but polite and helpful, often repeating the same information multiple times until it is understood. She does this without the slightest note of disdain.
In addition to being wonderful to students who need her help, she maintains a "school comes first" mantra with her employees. She would offer time off near midterms and finals and was never too good to do the same work we had to do. I know she often worked Saturdays to pick up others' slack, never complaining or wishing she didn't have to do it, just being glad her "worker bees" were getting good grades. Amazing!
I have seen her be supportive of every single person in her office, from health problems to divorces. Not many people can say they know someone as sweet and genuine as Sue, a person so quick to ask, "What can I do to help?”
Kudos to you, Sue. They're long overdue, it's true. Now THAT'S a haiku! You'll be missed!
Submitted by Tahra Cerutti, student employee, Financial Aid Office
Paula Ryan
Retention Coordinator, Undergraduate Advising Center
Paula, who supervises Students Tutoring Students and who spearheads several retention efforts including Wake Up Call, is an inspiration. Paula sees merit in every student (her clientele are often in academic difficulty). She gives each one her full attention and compassion, and they leave her office with hope and motivation.
Paula is patient and culturally sensitive. She is a good listener who asks the right questions to prompt her advisees to be open and forthcoming. As a colleague, she is immensely creative. She uses adversity to our (UNC) advantage, envisioning ways to build upon change and challenge. She is collaborative and sharing, an ideal colleague to work with on joint projects. She is consistently herself in all work situations, both a consummate professional and genuinely caring human being.
Submitted by Mary Groom-Hall, Multicultural and Freshman Seminar Advising Coordinator
S
Kaycee Schilke
Program Coordinator with UC Programming
Kaycee, I wanted to thank you personally, but I think this is a better way, since you have touched so many of our lives here in the campus community in such a personal way. You have given many of us who have taken your workshops inspiration and insight. You make us aware of all the diversity this campus and beyond has to offer. You make us aware of our own diversity, and that is a common thread that runs through us all, we are all brothers and sisters under the skin.
Good luck on your retirement; the campus community loses a great asset. Thank you again, Kaycee.
Submitted by Renee Valley, Intercollegiate Athletics
Janet Sedgley
Computer Support Specialist, IT
A KUDOS to Janet who helped me get the Staff Senate web site up and running. She came to my assistance immediately. She also sent me a computer angel to help, student employee Eric Estes. Without the two of these folks, our web site would still be floundering. Thank you Janet for helping and thank you also, Eric, for being so patient.
Submitted by Renee Valley, Intercollegiate Athletics
Shannon Sivertsen
Admin. Associate, Liberal Studies Program and Philosophy Dept.
Shannon is perfect for her job as Academic Advisor for the Liberal Studies Program. She has been with the department(s) for almost a year and a half and has established so many positive and productive relationships with Liberal Studies majors. She goes above and beyond in helping each one of her advisees, and, as her supervisor, I regularly hear comments from students that Shannon is the best advisor they have worked with. Shannon has established an excellent reputation for herself in the short time she has been here. The University is lucky to have her as an Academic Advisor!
Submitted by Jami Sindelar, Liberal Studies Program and Philosophy Dept.
Sandy Sprague
Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs
Sandy Sprague is exceptional every day. I especially want to thank her for the tremendous job she did in support of the University's annual Diversity Advisory Council Student Achievement Awards program that was recently held in the University Center .
Submitted by Charles Couture, Dean of Students
Kathleen Spritzer
Fiscal Officer, SOBA
She has been a constant inspiration during my time at SOBA over the years, most recently when I temped at SOBA for advisory board meetings in May and now that I am working in Brantly for MCH. She is the lynchpin in the organzational structure of SOBA. She is known across campus in her professional capacity and for her bright and sunny disposition. She possesses a unique set of skills and incredible institutional knowledge. She is rock solid when it comes to resolving staff issues and serves graduate students (MAcct), faculty, campus constituents, the public and the Dean with enthusiasm and energy. She is a champion for the Business School.
As a former staff member at SOBA, one year in particular when my job was very challenging and I thought I could not weather the storm, Kathleen supported me in my decisions and my role until we resolved amicably one of the toughest times in my professional career and the whole school benefited as a result. This is just one extreme example of the dedication Kathleen Spritzer exhibits on a daily basis for the school, for the campus and for Missoula. Thank you Kathleen!
Submitted by Clair Leonard, SOBA
Rhonda Stoddard
Budget Administrator, UM-M NSF EPSCoR
Rules, regulations, compliance--all part of most University of Montana staffers' daily routine. However, when an award from a federal agency is granted to The University many more “regs” come into play, making, in this case, a financial budget administrator, Rhonda Stoddard, even more accountable for her day-to-day workload.
Recently we had a situation where there appeared to be major problems with some paperwork submitted for reimbursement to an employee. Several issues were present related to the reimbursement, but suffice it to say that it appeared that many of the expenses incurred during an activity were going to be unallowable. Instead of just jotting off a memo to the employee saying tough luck, Rhonda addressed each of the issues in a systematic productive manner. She was able to bring all parties involved into a meeting setting, put everyone at ease and dug in to find a way to provide a workable solution for everyone involved.
Submitted by Bev, Internal Audit
