A combined total of 720 years of service on the part of 42 employees was honored last month during Emporia State University’s Employee Service Recognition reception. Two staff members also were honored as Outstanding University Support Staff Employee of the Year and Outstanding Unclassified Professional Employee of the Year.
During the ceremonies, Dr. Michael D. Shonrock, Emporia State president, presented pins and other gifts to employees for their 10-, 20-, 30- and 40-year service anniversaries.
The two employees of the year were chosen after nominations were submitted from across campus. The announcements by emcee Ron Thomas were surprises to the recipients, although their families were waiting in the wings.
Kathy Landwehr, assistant director for the Student Advising Center, was named Outstanding Unclassified Professional Employee of the Year. She works with students who are undecided in their major and teaches a freshman seminar class each semester. She’s known around campus for her use of the StrengthsFinder tool for teaching leadership. She has served on the General Education Council, Retention Action Team and the Undergraduate Academic Advising Committee.
Jackie Lutz, senior administrative specialist in career services, was named Outstanding University Support Staff Employee of the Year. Lutz has earned a reputation for helping students for reasons that extend beyond career services. For instance, when a student needed to reschedule an appointment because of a car breakdown, our employee of the year took the student to every auto parts store in Emporia to find the necessary part to fix the problem. Lutz currently serves as vice chair of the University Support Staff Commission.
Landwehr and Lutz each received flowers from the Emporia State University Foundation and a $500 check from the Emporia State Federal Credit Union.
Employees recognized for their years of service at the event were:
10 years — Jim Bartruff, Communication and Theatre; Donna Breshears, Emporia State University Foundation; June Coleman, Career Services; Jennifer Collins, Intercollegiate Athletics; Eric Conrad, Art; Suzanne Deweese, Jones Institute for Educational Excellence; Cory Falldine, Information Technology; Art Gutierrez, University Libraries and Archives; Kirsten Limpert, School Leadership/Middle and Secondary Teacher Education; Lauren Loucks, Health, Physical Education and Recreation; Donald Morfitt, Information Technology; Brice Obermeyer, Sociology, Anthropology and Crime and Delinquency Studies; Connie Phelps, Elementary Education, Early Childhood and Special Education; Patrick Resa, Information Technology; Matt Seimears, Elementary Education, Early Childhood and Special Education; Mary Shivley, Emporia State University Foundation; Amy Welch, Elementary Education, Early Childhood and Special Education; Stan Williams, University Facilities; and Deena Wilson, School of Business - Resource Center.
20 years — Michael Butler, Health, Physical Education and Recreation; Ray Cole, Information Technology; Allan Comstock, Music; Eldon Hinck, University Facilities; Mary Mitsui, Nursing; Anita Munoz, University Facilities; Linda Orear, School of Business – Instruction; Debbie Roether, Sociology, Anthropology and Crime and Delinquency Studies; Lynnette Schreiner, Nursing; Nancy Smith, Elementary Education, Early Childhood and Special Education; and Darrell Stephens, University Facilities.
30 years — Randy Atherton, University Copy Center; James Hannigan, University Facilities; Roger Heineken, Memorial Union; Gail Johnson, University Facilities; Larry Scott, Mathematics and Economics; Mark Stanbrough, Health, Physical Education and Recreation; Scott Waters, Elementary Education, Early Childhood and Special Education; and Cheryl Wooderson, Fiscal Affairs.
40 years — Gilbert Rodriguez, University Facilities.