Volunteer of the Month Recipients
“Perhaps the world neither little notes nor long remembers individual acts of kindness, but people do.” ~ Anonymous
2007 Recipients
Jeff Depuy
December 2007
Jeff had devoted 6-8 hours per week to "The U" Campus Community Student Radio since the Fall 2007 semester began. He manages the administrative aspects of the radio station in absence of the station manager. He checks talent in and out of the station, completes inventory and clerical work as needed. Without Jeff's volunteer work, the station would have much less programming and administrative organization. He brings a level of maturity needed to establish, maintain and grow a student run organization. He has a special undertanding of the technical aspects of a radio station. Furthermore, he has become a good role model for student leadership. He is always willing to mentor talent and staff.
Kathy Borges
November 2007
Kathy has assisted the Graduate School for 1.5 years by helping with office duties, like creating files for new admits. She has taken over the clerical duties, which has given the department more time to provide quality service to students and faculty. Kathy's efficiency and accuracy have meant that the department has been able to keep current with their new admits and the new student files are easily accessible. The Graduate School is very thankful to have Kathy as a volunteer!
Jackie Klotzer
October 2007
Jackie assisted Gallery Visio during their season opening exhibit. The gallery had a huge crowd that night, with many external guests in attendance. Jackie was gracious and extremely helpful. She sold shirts for the gallery's fundraiser and assisted with art sales. Jackie is comfortable with all visitors and is approachable when they have questions. It also helps that she knows the campus so well. Jackie has volunteered in many campus departments and is a wonderful asset to the University.
Yvonne Hill
September 2007
Yvonne has done a wide range of projects to assist the alumni office in keeping our graduates connected to their alma mater. From mailing projects, phoning, copying, putting membership packets together, folding t-shirts, Yvonne's assistance on these projects has aided us in getting information out to our alumni in a timely manner and making them smile. Yvonne approaches every project with a smile and a positive attitude. She has even volunteered to stay longer and even come in on unscheduled days to complete particular projects. She takes great pride in doing a thorough job and being part of the Alumni Team. She is a pleasure to have around. She is a kind, sensitive and interesting person. Her love of family, friends and life is inspirational.
Christine Bates
August 2007
Chris has provided a valuable service to the University Bookstore by
taking photographs of students and administrators to be used as giant posters throughout the MSC. She used her personal time off from her job to take photographs of the Chancellor, Vice Provost, Assistant Vice Provost, students and faculty to help promote school spirit and a sense of community here at UMSL. She was so wonderful to work with, she made all of her subjects feel comfortable and important. The chancellor loved the photos she took of him so much so that he is going to post them on his personal website. She is an absolutely wonderful person to work with! You will definitely see her pictures all over campus by the time school starts for the fall semester!
Annette Harrison, Marilyn Kinsella, Sherry Norfolk
July 2007
Annette, Marilyn and Sherry volunteered with the department of Continuing Education- Arts & Science, Storytelling Festival. They gave of their time and talents freely, donating a tremendous amount of time. The women's greatest contribution was towards a study guide that the department was trying to develop. Annette, Marilyn and Sherry took an idea and developed the guide into a tool that could be placed on the website immediately. They were more than willing to volunteer their time, talent, and expertise to accomplish the goals and mission of the festival
Patricia Mahari
June 2007
Patricia Mahari has been a frequent volunteer on the UMSL campus. She was nominated for volunteering as a receptionist in the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Pat helped out by answering the phone, greeting visitors and assisting with routine office tasks, as well as special mailings. Pat is always willing to do anything that is asked of her, no matter how large or small. When not busy, Pat asks if there is anything else she can do to help. Pat has endeared herself to the staff and visitors.
Ben Alexander
May 2007
Ben Alexander volunteered in the Continuing Education- Program Support department. They were so please with Ben's performance, that after volunteering with the department for two months, he was hired as a temporary employee. He helped the department through a difficult time by quickly learning how to set up and operate the audio-visual and mail processing equipment. Ben is very pleasant, extremely reliable, a fast learner and ready to help with any task. The department was so impressed with Ben's performance, they created a new position and plan to hire him on a permanent basis.
Paul Langdon
April 2007
Paul has volunteered for Video Technology Services, a division of the Information Technology Department, for four months last summer and began volunteering for them again this March. He is responsible for converting University Archive Video tapes to DVD and assisting with basic video services as needed. Paul's volunteer work is not only valued currently by the department but will be valued by our campus community in years to come due to the nature of the video tapes being converted intol digital DVD format. These tapes include campus historical events, presentations, and notable visitors to the campus. Paul is very reliable and shows a strong interest in what he is doing.
Joe Adler & Eric Belleville
March 2007
Eric and Joe, students at Hazelwood West, volunteered during their winter break as inventory clerks for the Facilities Store. They were able to complete the inventory in three days -- previously the project took up to two weeks! Their accuracy was excellent and each day they came in, they went right to work..."They made working over the holidays a pleasure!"
Katherine Kravitz
February 2007Katherine volunteers for Instructional Computing Services.
She assists all students attending their Short Course Classes. Katherine acts as a room monitor helping the students in the room maintain their work so that the instructor can keep going to cover all items on the agenda. She is a very good influence on the staff, faculty, and students that have attended these classes. She is very pleasant and possesses a "how can I help" attitude that makes others feel the same way. Her patient, caring attitude towards everyone results in her guiding students in a manner that makes it very easy to learn.Murlene Thayer
January 2007
Murlene has volunteered at over forty events at the Touhill Performing Arts Center since she began volunteering two years ago. She has volunteered in all of the performance positions including ticket taker, usher, greeter, coat check attendant, elevator operator, and merchandise attendent. Murlene is attentive with detail, patterns, and needs. She volunteers with confidence and extends herself to others unconditionally. She helps other volunteers get acclimated to their duties with patience while keeping her own responsibilities intact. Murlene is also willing to help volunteer for an event that is understaffed even if it's with little notification. The Touhill Performing Arts Center could not operate without individuals like her. As a gardener, as a person, and as a volunteer, Murlene has been very succesful in sowing seeds to their full potential.
2006 Recipients
Claude Wall
December 2006
Claude sorts and distributes mail for over 360 residents and forwards mail from previous residents. From day one of volunteering with the Residential Life department, Claude has been exceptional. He is very laid back and adds a calming factor to the normally high strung office. He is extremely personable and a great pleasure to work with. Claude was "nominated for the absolutely incredible person (and great golfer) he is!
Gregory Rogers
November 2006
Greg has been a volunteer at UM-St. Louis since January 2005. Since August 2006 he has volunteered over 120 hours at the
UM-St. Louis Bookstore. His main responsibilities include straightening clothing and other merchandise, greeting customers, assisting students in finding merchandise, and dusting and organizing the shelving. He is always pleasant, well mannered, well groomed and hard working. Greg always has a smile for staff and students who visit the bookstore. He takes pride in his work and will tenaciously keep at it until the job is completed perfectly. Bookstore employees enjoy having Greg around even more -- "He's always willing to help with any project and always agrees to help when he's asked. I think it's so cool to pass by an aisle and see him smiling and dancing while he volunteers."Brooke Center-Wise
October 2006Brooke Center-Wise has volunteered over three
hundred hours at Gallery Visio since May 2005. Brooke works with artists to produce exhibits in often challenging, non-traditional spaces. The events are always charity related and often require 4 or more weeks of preparation time, including rehabbing spaces, major promotional work, and many client/artist contact hours. She recently coordinated with two major realtors and developers to raise money for a local early childhood development center and has helped produce a student/alumni exhibit for the Arts & Education Council. Brooke grew up volunteering and approaches each new assignment with spirit and enthusiasm. We are fortunate to have such heartfelt dedication at our university.Derek Bankston
September 2006
Derek has been very helpful in getting the benefit binders ready for benefit orientations and new employees. He has also assisted the Human Resources Benefits Department by shredding, filing, and answering phones. Derek works independently and is very accurate, diligent, and conscientious. His personality, manner and dedication make him a delight to be around.
Pat Ellis
August 2006
Pat Ellis has volunteered over 140 hours to the department of Parking & Transportation. She has helped develop a transportation database system that contains driver and shuttle bus reports from 2000 and later. This database will enable shuttle bus schedules to be developed. Pat possesses initiative, understanding of transportation goals, professionalism; and is a team player.
Marilyn Smith
July 2006
Marilyn has volunteered over 80 hours for over 10 different departments on campus since she began volunteering in October 2005. She has assisted at special events for departments such as Office of Equal Opportunity, Gallery Visio, Catholic Newman Center, and Center for Teaching and Learning. She is also assisted in special projects and as a receptionist for Alumni & Constituent Relations, Kids Voting Missouri, and University Relations. Marilyn has a quiet strength. She makes everyone around her feel valued and comfortable.
Elsie Meyer
June 2006
Elsie has been volunteering at the University Child Development Center since January 2005. She goes above and beyond anything asked of her. She prepares snacks and does numerous activities with the children of which she usually buys with her own money and brings to the center. Elsie works hard to make sure the childrens' needs are met whether it be by passing out snacks, reading stories/telling stories, playing outside, or them just needing a special friend. She has established an excellent working and social relationship with staff and parents. She is an extraordinary volunteer!
Oscar Brookins
May 2006
Oscar has not missed a day since he began volunteering with the grounds department. He has always has a smile on his face and works just as hard as everyone else even though he does not receive compensation. He "digs" in and doesn't stop! He makes everyone laugh and is truly enjoyed by all.
Samrita Lohani
April 2006
Samrita Lohani has contributed her time, knowlege, resources, and services to the Public Finance Intiative for the Public Policy Research Center. Samirta has built a comprehensive database and has used this database for evaluation that will be supplied to Missouri's Joint Committe on Tax Policy. Her work has helped PPRC fulfill its contract work, enabled the department and staff to concentrate on other things knowing this was in good hands, and has had a direct impact on the center's public exposure and ultimatley on public policy.
March 2006
Judy Nelson
Judy
Nelson has been volunteering in the Interlibrary Loan Unit at the Thomas
Jefferson Library for four hours each week since April 2005. Judy is responsible
for validating the unit's policies online to other national and international
libraries; and updating the list of library codes which could not be done
without her help due to lack of time and staff availability.
Her willingness
to help has contributed to the excellent service patrons have come to expect.
February 2006
Susan Brown Erickson
Susan
Brown Erickson began volunteering at the University Child Development Center
in March 2005.
She is a wonderful nurturer to the children and has developed
a strong bond with each one of them.
The staff and parents truly appreciate
all of her help
and dedication.
January 2006
Ashley Moore
Ashley is a freshman at Hazelwood East and has been volunteering
at Gallery Visio since September 2005. She assists with the installation of
exhibits and the check in and processing of artwork for the exhibits. Without
her help the installation team could not put the show in place.