Kudos Korner

From Sue Woodring

I'd like to salute Alison Bonsell and her team in Housing and Food Services for their very fine work at the dedication of the athletic fields for Denny and Dianne Stewart. The artwork and presentation of the foods was extraordinary and enjoyed by everyone. The decorations were as special as the day itself.

Also, the work of my team in the development office was outstanding in the planning and execution of the day's event. I appreciate their very good work and dedication to ensuring success!

Posted Monday, June 9, 2008

From Patricia Jabbeh Wesley

I want to congratulate and thank Mandy Reinig who has been of exceptional support to me every step of the way as we planed, worked on, and got organized for the Creative Writing Study Abroad program to Ghana. She assisted by visiting my classes, listening to me, taking phone calls from me, and connecting to the Pan African Literary Forum (PALF) study abroad while connecting to University Park in all of this planning. She edited my templates and various proposals, and was there whenever I needed a question answered as we worked on the various proposals for the Ghana Summer Study Abroad. She even had the Web site up and working in the midst of all of the other things she had to do. Without your support, Mandy, I don't think I would have completed the proposals. Because of your patience and hard work, we now have a fully approved program, ready to recruit. Thanks for all you do. Keep up the good work.

Posted Wednesday, February 13, 2008

From Dana Chestney

I wish to express heartfelt appreciation to my friends throughout the campus community for their many acts of kindness during the last few weeks.  Your prayers, encouragement, and many forms of caring and support offered great comfort to me.  At a time when I needed to draw strength and resolve from outside sources, you were there for me.  Thank you for helping to guide me through a trying period in my life.  I will always be grateful for your time and generosity.

Warm regards,
Dana Chestney

Posted Monday, December 17, 2007

From Scott Kelly

I would like to thank Mandy Reinig for coming to the ADM J 083S class and informing the students about Penn State Altoona's Study Abroad Program.  She has sparked the student’s interests while reducing their fear of applying to the program.  Her presentation gave the students a global perspective on education; awesome job!

Posted Friday, October 19, 2007

From Scott Kelly

I would like to thank Essie Auker for teaching the ADM J 083S class the importance of self-worth, through her continued devotion to drug and alcohol prevention efforts. You have truly empowered my students to help others; awesome job!

Posted Friday, October 19, 2007

From Andy Vavreck

Gina Baird has been tremendously responsive and diligent in helping my division develop next semester's class schedule.  She also manages to somehow keep smiling while doing it! It makes a difficult part of my job so much easier to know I can count on her.  Thanks so much, Gina, for being so good at what you do.

Posted Tuesday, October 9, 2007

From Scott Kelly

Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007

From Karen Volpe, Blair County Arts Foundation

Lori Bechtel Penn State Altoona
June 26, 2007

Dear Lori,

Allow me to begin this letter with a beautiful quote I recently read.

"Every once in awhile we have an experience that makes our world pause, and in those moments we enjoy a clarity of vision, reminding us of our purpose and priorities, of who we are, and why we entered our chosen profession. I call these 'renaissance moments'-they refresh our spirit, renew our commitment to our core values, and reaffirm our desire to make this world a better place."
- Lori Bechtel

What beautiful words you write! They remind me of my own "renaissance moments" during preparations for the Blair County Arts Festival this year. A month has passed, and I still feel refreshed and renewed by the experience.

The actual "moments" usually involved a Penn State Altoona employee. Without exception, your staff made our festival staff and volunteers feel at home. No problem was too small, and we were never made to feel unwelcome. Someone was always handing us a cup of coffee, offering us the use of an office, loaning us a hammer, helping us to find something, or solving a problem. It was moments like these that made us all comfortable and laid the foundation for a friendly, community event. One that was not only financially successful, but also successful in building a stronger cultural community.

I don't have names for all of the friendly faces, but I would like to mention several who were especially helpful. Please extend my appreciation to all of them. Shari Routch and her staff were a tremendous help in making every little detail go smoothly. Cindy Mighells was incredibly efficient at trouble shooting and at coordinating site-related requests. Jonathan O'Harrow was always willing to assist with whatever was asked of him. Noel Feely and Marlene Liszka went out of their way to help us. Tom Coy did everything from loaning us his own personal truck to providing refrigerator space in the Slep Center. He was also very instrumental in making the first annual Festival Canoe Races a huge success. Mitch Bonsell and the entire maintenance staff went above and beyond the call of duty. Police Service officers were always there when we needed them. And, of course, your volunteer reception was greatly appreciated by all who attended.

Thank you for the royal treatment and for providing a beautiful location, where artists and neighbors can greet one another in their own backyard.

With Sincere Gratitude,
Karen Volpe
Festival Coordinator
 
Posted Tuesday, July 10, 2007

From Sharon Love

Kudos to Todd Hershberger, our friendly technology guru. He has rescued me from the clutches of fouled technology more than once this semester, and as recently as today! Todd has rescued me from things like a bad cable for the overhead projector (who knew?), a series of plugs someone pulled on another system (dont touch the wires please!), and a classroom computer ghost where the sound was so loud our ears rang. Kudos Todd..for coming quickly, being efficient in finding and fixing the problem on the fly...and for having such a positive attitude about the rescuing work you do. Much thanks!

Posted Thursday, April 5, 2007

From Megan Simpson

Carole Bookhamer, faculty staff assistant in the Smith Building, deserves mega-mega-kudos for her tireless and excellent work on the African American Read-In. When she happily accepted my invitation last fall to help with the Read-In again ­ as she has for several years now — she can’t have known what she was getting into this year with all the new features and expanded 2-day program... and all of it having to come together FAST due to the late start of the spring semester. From the second week of January until just yesterday, she’s literally worked every day on some aspect of the project, from designing and producing flyers, invitations, booklets of elementary students’ essays, and various P/R materials, to purchasing train tickets, preparing speaker contracts, arranging catering and guest accommodations, ordering audio equipment and room set ups, tracking RSVPs, and attending to details, details, and more details. She never complains (as I do!!), does beautiful work, and doesn’t miss a thing. Quite simply, without her, the African American Read-In would not happen, and I would not be a sane person.

Posted Wednesday, February 7, 2007