Thanks for being a Bear.

Missouri State University’s Staff Service Awards program honored several categories of staff for their hard work and dedication.

At the Jan. 8 ceremony, Missouri State announced the two winners of its Staff Excellence in Community Service Award and the six winners of its Staff Excellence in University Service Award.

The university also recognized about 200 staff from the Springfield campus for reaching a five-year longevity milestone in 2019.

Check out the full program

Two honored for community contributions

The Excellence in Community Service Award recipients were Priscilla Childress, new student and family programs, and Teri Poindexter, editorial and design services.

Six honored for service to university

The Staff Excellence in University Service Awards were presented to:

• Rhonda Breshears, Darr College of Agriculture
• Holly Calkins, maintenance
• Brian Hays, College of Natural and Applied Sciences
• Gale Lininger, College of Natural and Applied Sciences
• Brenda Polyard, university/community programs – West Plains
• Eric Shively, McQueary College of Health and Human Services

33 staff members retire in 2019

Staff retirees from the Springfield campus include:

• Calvin Avery, outreach
  March 26, 2007-March 31, 2019
• Mary Barnhart, custodial
  July 8, 2007-Oct. 31, 2019
• Billie Brown, custodial
  Oct. 3, 1999-March 31, 2019
• Terri Carrington, provost
  March 1, 2004-Dec. 31, 2019
• Julie Cheek, art and design
  March 1, 1994-June 30, 2019
• Daniel Edwards, maintenance
  Nov. 1, 2010-Oct. 31, 2019
• Mary Ekhause, postal services
  Dec. 17, 2008-Aug. 31, 2019
• Karla Ferguson, College of Education
  Nov. 9, 2003-Aug. 31, 2019
• Suzann Ferguson, Career Center
  Jan. 9, 1986-Oct. 31, 2019
• Michael Flosi, computer services
  April 17, 2000-Dec. 31, 2019
• Nancy Holmer, library
  Sept. 2, 1980-July 31, 2019
• Laurie Johnson, Hammons Student Center
  Sept. 26, 1995-Sept. 30, 2019
• Lois Jones, agency for teaching, leading and learning
  May 21, 2007-June 30, 2019
• Sandra Litle, custodial
  Feb. 28, 2010-Jan. 31, 2019
• Vicki Sue Mattocks, financial aid
  Oct. 17, 1985-Feb. 28, 2019
• Samuel Mendez, Plaster Student Union physical plant
  Jan. 5, 2003-Dec. 31, 2019
• Jeff Paul Morrissey, information services
  Oct. 15, 1984-May 31, 2019
• Valerie Ann Murphy, financial services
  June 1, 1984-June 30, 2019
• Laura Pavlick, facilities management
  Feb. 21, 2006-June 30, 2019
• Tamara Reed, internal audit and risk management
  Jan. 4, 1993-July 31, 2019
• Denise Ribas, custodial
  April 22, 1996-Jan. 31, 2019
• Sheryl Ann Ruff-Hensley, marketing
  June 27, 1993-June 30, 2019
• Kristy Russell, kinesiology
  Aug. 15, 1988-April 30, 2019
• Terry Russell, bursar
  Nov. 1, 1999-June 30, 2019
• Donald Simpson, enrollment management and services
  Aug. 28, 1978-July 31, 2019
• Roy Staeger, university safety
  June 9, 2008-Sept. 30, 2019
• Teresa Steele, financial services
  Sept. 7, 2004-April 30, 2019
• Tami Sutton, research and economic development and international programs
  April 17, 1989-March 31, 2019
• Cynthia Thieman, College of Education
  Aug. 24, 2009-May 31, 2019
• Davey Thomas, custodial
  June 21, 1993-March 29, 2019
• Grady Walker, residence life, housing and dining services
  Oct. 3, 1999-June 30, 2019
• Jannette Wynn, custodial
  Aug. 4, 2014-July 31, 2019
• Hongjun Yin, library
  April 9, 2001-April 30, 2019

Employees recognized for up to 45 years of service

Also recognized were Missouri State employees who achieved a five-year longevity milestone – from five to 45 years of service.

The longest serving employee honored at the ceremony was Judith Campbell, counseling, leadership and special education department, with 45 years of service.

Individuals recognized for 35 years of service include:

• Tracy Patton, library
• Robin Powell, computer science
• Debra Donnellan, human resources
• Valerie Ann Murphy, financial services
• Nancy Mills, Juanita K. Hammons Hall
• Elizabeth Malarkey, broadcast services – KSMU

Those recognized for 30 years of service include:

• Charles Busby, provost
• Teresa Annette Carl, management
• Vicki Evans, library
• Kristy Russell, kinesiology
• Theresa McCoy, computer services
• Paul Evans, baseball

Individuals recognized for 25 years of service include:

• Jim Bonds, residence life, housing and dining services – facilities and operations
• Julie Cheek, art and design
• James Clark, grounds
• Patty Claussen, financial aid
• Valerie Cummings, outreach
• Brenda Espy, intercollegiate athletics
• Debbie Ewert, networking and telecommunications
• Ann Herring, outreach
• Mark Johnson, residence life, housing and dining services – facilities and operations
• Jana Loge, agency for teaching, leading and learning
• Francis Ruzicka, maintenance
• Amy Schuldt, editorial and design services
• Richard Schuldt, I Courses
• Marianne Stanley, computer services
• Jeffrey Switzer, maintenance
• Davey Thomas, custodial
• Kevin White, visual media