April 30, 2024
College of Veterinary Medicine presents sixth annual staff awards
A large crowd attended the sixth annual staff appreciation/awards luncheon hosted April 16 by the College of Veterinary Medicine Staff Council. This council represents all unclassified and university support staff in the college. One of the main priorities of the Staff Council is to acknowledge staff members for their contributions to the college's mission.
Kayla Campbell, instructional designer in the dean's office, currently serves as chair for the Staff Council. She said the number of awards nominations this year has grown over previous years.
"The staff awards ceremony was another success this year; we had one of the greatest turnouts in recent years with 210 attendees to help support one another," Campbell said. "From the increased nominations that this year brought we were able to award four additional awards to make the total 12 awardees. The Staff Council team did an outstanding job from start to finish to make the ceremony such a success."
"We have a large number of outstanding staff members in our college who support our research, educational and service mission. The numbers of staff in our teaching hospital and diagnostic lab are unlike any other college on campus," said Bonnie Rush, Hodes family dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. "We thank all those supervisors and colleagues who have nominated staff members for these awards while sharing inspiring stories of dedication and commitment. And we congratulate all those individuals who were nominated and who received these awards!"
There are three award categories: High Five Award; Culture, Collegiality and Compassion Award; and Commitment to Excellence Award. Nominations can be submitted by any faculty, staff or administrators in the college, but must be accompanied by at least two letters of support.
The awards for 2024 are as follows:
High Five Award
Presented to an employee who has gone above and beyond in enhancing one or more components of the College of Veterinary Medicine's mission of exceptional teaching, impactful research, outstanding service, extraordinary graduates.
This year's recipients are: Mina Abbasi, research associate, diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; Rosa Collazo, human resources professional, business office; and Amy Elswick, administrative assistant, clinical sciences.
Culture, Collegiality and Compassion Award
Presented to an employee who enhances a feeling of belonging for all of the College of Veterinary Medicine and creates a more inclusive environment while enhancing the College of Veterinary Medicine's mission of Exceptional Teaching, Impactful Research, Outstanding Service, Extraordinary Graduates.
This year's recipients are: Manickam Dhandapani, software applications developer; and Hannah Tice, staff member in the rabies laboratory.
Commitment to Excellence Award
Presented to six employees who have gone beyond in enhancing one or more components of the College of Veterinary Medicine's mission of Exceptional Teaching, Impactful Research, Outstanding Service, Extraordinary Graduates.
The recipients are: Mya Croy, veterinary assistant radiology in the Veterinary Health Center; Katherine Carlgren, assistant to the hospital director in the Veterinary Health Center; Chris Chandler, molecular service, Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory; Brent Comp, IT administrator; Jason DeFisher, rabies laboratory staff; Kodi Ginavan, radiologic technologist in the Veterinary Health Center; Jeffrey Volz, small animal nurse in the Veterinary Health Center.