Today's Update: Friday, December 2, 2022
December 2, 2022
Dear Student Life team,
Happy High Five Friday.
Our first High Five this week goes to Otis Palmer of Environmental Services in the Ohio Union, who took extra care and time to help a student who had lost an earring that was very special to her in the Ohio Union’s Great Hall. If you’ve ever tried to find a sparkly diamond on a sparkly terrazzo floor, you know what a huge undertaking this was!
A number of our team members have devoted many years to our students here at Ohio State and were honored this week at a Faculty and Staff Service Recognition Luncheon. They paid tribute to those who are celebrating 25, 20, 35, 40, 45 or 50 years of service. High Fives to Dave Wiseley, Kevin Bledsoe, Abby Hertzfeld, Cheryl Lyons, Gregory Bayless, Debra Mosley, Rob Lyons, Rachel Conners, Beth Ullum, Julius Mayo, Michael Schopieray, John Moses, Ryo Choi-Pearson and Shari Simpson.
Did you see that Brutus grew a mustache? High Fives to Kristen Swope and Jake Friedman of Counseling and Consultation Service for organizing yet another successful Movember campaign to encourage discussion of important themes related to men’s mental health by shining a light on the importance of self-care, open dialogue and the strength of reaching out.
High Five to the Student Health Services clinical and pharmacy teams for increasing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rate on campus. Their success qualified SHS for a rebate on the price of the HPV vaccines we purchase.
Taylor Koon, Tierra Heath and Jordan Alexander get High Fives for planning the “How I Got Here: First-Generation Pathways to Leadership” panel in celebration of National First-Generation College Student Day. High Fives as well to Drs. Shawnté Elbert, Angie Wellman, David Graham, Damon Jaggars, Kia McKinnie and Chila Thomas for serving as panelists. The stories, experiences and advice shared as First-Generation graduates and leaders were inspirational, heart-warming and candid about the challenges and benefits of being a first-generation student. The students who participated walked away with a new network of university leaders who are there to champion their success.
High Five to Mollie Workman for all her efforts in collating data from Handshake and creating enhanced reporting to help drive data-decision making across Buckeye Careers and other areas across the university, including the College Career Services Offices, Office of Corporate Partnerships and Institutional Research and Planning.
You know from reading these messages every week that I love expressing appreciation for team members. The only thing that is better is when team members express appreciation for each other. High Five to Victoria Weaver (née Figliomeni, so bonus High Five for her recent marriage). She is the reservations manager for spaces including the Ohio Union, and has a wall dedicated to giving kudos to the student staff who manage the desk in the Administrative Office Suite on the Union’s second floor. That’s a great demonstration of our culture commitment to appreciation.
Have a Scarlet and Great weekend.
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University