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.
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