The 2019 DSA Awards and Recognition Celebration honored staff and teams across the Division of Student Affairs for their outstanding work. Photos courtesy of Brittney Wolf
Service to students. Commitment to diversity. Innovation in the workplace.
The Division of Student Affairs recently celebrated individual staff members and teams that exude the traits of what it means to be a professional at Colorado State University.
The division hosted its DSA Awards and Recognition Celebration at the end of May in the Lory Student Center, with approximately 300 people in attendance. The annual event honors the contributions of individuals and teams across the division for their efforts.
Awards Reception included more than 40 nominees across six awards, recognizing areas such as departmental collaboration, program innovation and commitment to outstanding work, among other areas.
“The nomination pool was incredible this year,” said Brittney Wolf, the facility scheduling and event management coordinator in Campus Recreation who chaired the awards selection committee. “We saw a real collaborative spirit among the nominees that make an impact beyond their unit.”
Bridges Award
This award is given to a team from at least two departments who collaborate to develop a new program within the last 18 months that involves sharing resources. Together, the team achieves more than what could have been accomplished alone.
Winners
CSU Health Network SLiCE and the Collaborative for Student Achievement
Nomination Letter: “With a growing need to provide CSU students seeking health careers with options for medical volunteering, this group found a meaningful volunteer activity that reinforces CSU’s Principles of Community and the land-grant mission of the university.”
“The Collaborative for Student Achievement helped the team connect with the pre-health key communities such as Premedica Club as well as utilized the network of contacts in Health Professions Advising to get the word out to interested students.”
Nominees
Campus Recreation and United Way of Larimer County
The CSU Health Network, SLiCE and the Collaborative for Student Achievement
Office of Financial Aid and the Career Center
Impact Award
This award is given to an individual who is influential in creating a positive work environment.
Winner
Lucinda Van Inwagen
Senior employer connections manager
Career Services
Nomination Letter: “Lucinda has a clear passion for the Career Center mission and a strong devotion to CSU. Her dedication and zeal not only lifts her team members up in the work they are doing but enables her to make strong connections with employers who wish to engage with CSU students.”
Nominees
Michael Buttram | SLiCE
Codi Delgadillo | Career Center
Mandy Frale | CSU Health Network
Jimmy Hicks | University Housing
Hannah Penland | University Housing
Shirl Portillos | University Housing
Deanna Rea | CSU Bookstore
Jose Valdez | Housing and Dining Services
Lucinda Van Inwagen | Career Center
Lani Williams | University Housing
Innovation Award
This award is given to an individual who demonstrates innovation in developing or enhancing programs and/or services that meet the changing needs of a campus population.
Winner
Lucas Miller
Senior associate director of operations
Residential dining
Nomination Letter: “Over the past year, Lucas has worked on several programs to enhance student success and cater to the changing needs of our campus population. Students shared feedback about wanting a wider variety and higher quality items in the express facilities. Lucas implemented a point system for students to use their meal plan in those locations.”
Nominees
Ben Burnham | Campus Recreation
Helena Gardner | University Housing
Jen Johnson | SLiCE
Lucas Miller | Residential Dining Services
Nicole Reed | Housing and Dining Services
Quality Service Award
This award is given to a person who demonstrates a commitment to outstanding work. The willingness to go “above and beyond” to reach identified goals is evident by the individual’s positive attitude.
Winner
Amalia Ornelas
Health care tech
Health Network Medical
Nomination Letter: “Amalia’s exceptional professionalism is demonstrated every day, and she is a role model for the MA and nursing staff at the Health Network. She goes above and beyond to ensure that providers’ needs are met and is always available to answer questions or solve problems.”
Nominees
Tyler Carlson | Residential Dining Services
Noah Christensen | Housing and Dining Services
Christen Craft | University Housing
Matthew Drasner | Housing and Dining Services
Andrea Fortney | Collaborative for Student Achievement
Amalia Ornelas | CSU Health Network
Nancy Rhodes | Off-Campus Life
Nick Rhodes | University Housing
Alisha Zmuda | Student Disability Center
Ram Award
This award is given to a person who exemplifies what it is to be a CSU Ram. This person supports people, activities, programs and places that reflect Ram Pride and abilities that CSU holds high.
Winner
Amanda Wimmer
Alternative testing coordinator
Student Disability Center
Nomination Letter: “When looking for someone who exemplifies the Ram traits of hard work, perseverance, collaboration, and pride in oneself and school, you need to look no further than Amanda! Amanda is a Ram, through and through.”
Nominees
Kelesy Baun | Lory Student Center
Mary Gallegos | CSU Health Network
Leslie Harper | Housing and Dining Services
Blanche Hughes | VP for Student Affairs
Allison Penfield | Student Disability Center
Cami Smith | LSC Dining Services
Rebecca Villalpando | Collaborative for Student Achievement
Kirk Wilkinson | University Housing
Amanda Wimmer | Student Disability Center
Rising Star Award
This award is given to a person who has been employed by CSU for five years or fewer and demonstrates a commitment to outstanding work. Their willingness to go “above and beyond” to reach identified goals is evident by the individual’s positive attitude.
Winner
Tyrell Allen
Program coordinator
Ram Events
Nomination Letter: “Since Tyrell’s arrival to Ram Events, the quality of work from our students, programs and relationships have grown tremendously. Tyrell’s contributions have pushed the students to think and act differently.”
Nominees
Tyrell Allen | Ram Events
Amy Cailene | Career Center
Melissa Carlson | University Housing
Amelia Castaneda | Academic Advancement Center
Jeff Cornelius | Residential Dining Services
Crystal Garcia | RamCard Office
Nico Gowdy | Student Disability Center
Greg Head | Career Center
Torin Kaletsky | Campus Recreation
Yusuf Tsambi | CSU Health Network
