Today's Update: Friday, August 4, 2023
August 4, 2023
Dear Student Life team,
Happy High Five Friday.
We know the work we do is often life changing, but it isn’t often that it’s literally lifesaving. Yet this week I get to share about two separate situations where that happened. Both deserve the highest of High Fives!
You may remember a few weeks ago when young swimmer suffered a medical emergency at a meet in McCorkle. Rec Sports team members pulled him from the water and saved him. He is home, active and doing very well. Yesterday there was a private recognition event for those who helped save his life, including team members from Wexner Medical Center, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Columbus Fire Department and especially the Rec Sports team, including Jacob Winslow, David Swearingen, James Berry, Jessica Diskin, Anna Chambers, Phil Julson, Christine Thompson, Kelsey Bitner and Annika Mintzlaff, as well as the support for those involved from Stacey Renker and Micky Sharma. I am honored to give you all High Fives!
A team member tells me she was recently choking, and Thyrone Henderson and Samantha Bradway quickly did the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged the food. Others who jumped in to help include E'nid Patterson, Troy Keller and Tanya McDay. Again, High Fives to those who stepped up, and in, to potentially save a life.
High Five to Morgan Hammonds for being selected as the Buckeye Wellness Innovator of the month. She’s featured on their website.
Chelsea Black gets a High Five for her leadership in identifying and advocating for operational efficiencies within the STEP process that will save lots of hours and people power while maintaining the highest quality program for students.
High Five to Brendan Greisberger in the Student Wellness Center who is always quick to jump on a call to help a colleague with a question or understand student wellness a bit more.
Some honorary “Green Buckeyes” get High Fives for their help in support of Ohio State’s Zero Waste efforts. Jen Pelletier, Devon Stith, Cassie Smith and Jaylen Lindsey from Student Activities helped deliver 550+ bins to individual student rooms in Smith-Steeb Hall as we prepare to roll out our first residence hall offering automatic composting to our students. High Fives as well to the Smith-Steeb Hall director, Michaela Pullen-Kellogg, and the entire Smith-Steeb team in Housing and Residence Education for helping educate the students on proper composting. Finally, High Fives to the Smith-Steeb Environmental Services crew for their involvement, including Lauren Meng, Greg Franklin, Victoria Israel, Nurto Weyrah, Arthur Smith, Kevin Elliott, Wanna Garland, Josephine Obeng, Donta Cook, Danielle Harris and Alvin Pass.
High Five to Marjorie Freggens in the Center for the Study of Student Life for being such an expert in data analysis and creating dashboards while being kind and patient while answering partner questions.
Finally, I had a wonderful time this week at the Ohio State Fair for the Dean’s Steer Show. The event benefited Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. I showed Tree Trunks (the heifer’s name) with 10TV’s Tracy Townsend and incoming Buckeye Delaney Moore (the niece of former Student Life team member Jody Poth). We were honored to win the People’s Choice Award! High Fives to everyone who donated and who came out to cheer on our team, Buckeye Moo’d, as well as those who helped with make it possible including Tracy Stuck, Stacy Smith, Candyce Williams, Kellie Uhrig, Jen Cottrell, Travis Barnhart, Rachel Connors, Dave Isaacs, Johna Walls, Tiffany Quattlebaum, Kim Traverse and Bridgett Keener as well as spirit squad leaders Danny Glassmann, Daren Lehman, Aubrie Smith, Jenn Miller, Josh Bodnar, Matt Couch, Charity Martin-King , Michelle Miranda, Tom Reeves, Kristin Smith, Jeremy Gabis and Kristin Rupert Davis.
Have a Scarlet and Great weekend!
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University