Congratulations to the 2021 Distinguished Service Award winners!

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First Place: David Cox, Herd Manager, Department of Animal and Food Sciences

“David is the epitome of service. There have been many times over the 38 years that he
has been called upon to show up early, stay late, respond to emergencies, etc. He is called upon because everyone knows he has the skill and knowledge to handle any situation, and he will accept the responsibility.”

“Graduate students who have worked with David typically comment that they could not
have successfully completed their research without his counsel and cherish his friendship for the many ways he enriched their overall experience at OSU."

“David is a gentleman who works hard every day to be sure the animals, people and
equipment he is in charge of, are treated fairly and properly.”

 

Second Place: Kim Southworth, Director, Environmental Health and Safety

“Kim leads the entire EHS team on a daily basis while maintaining safety for the entire
campus."

"Kim continues to provide insight and guidance to the university to ensure the safety of
the faculty, staff and students."

"Kim has been great to work with, when times get rough or challenging, she is always there to provide insight, leadership and guidance.”

 

Third Place: Jack Henneha, Assistant Director of Operations, Student Health Center

“On a daily basis Jack is working across all of our functional areas to make sure that our
operations are working and that patients are receiving a high level of care. He has worked
tirelessly including late hours on the evenings and weekends to make sure that all of our operations are supported and setup properly.”

“Jack has a positive attitude and is always smiling. If he is presented with a problem, he
will find a solution. He leads our team with integrity and a calm spirit.”

“On top of all of his hard work and effort Jack is one of the nicest people you will meet on campus. He is always polite, courteous, and has a great sense of humor.”

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2021 Distinguished Service Award Finalists

 

Erin Johnson - Business and Marketing Client Coordinator, Food and Agricultural Products Center, Robert M. Kerr

“Erin is a leader and a helper. She sees things that need attention and does the work."

"She is a 'loyal and true' hard worker who gives her all cheerfully to the land grant mission. She represents OSU with distinction whether working in the field with established food companies and entrepreneurs or interacting with the public.”

 

Tiegan Willoughby - Specialist Degree Audit, Office of the Registrar
“Tiegan goes above and beyond in this role with his attention to detail, unending
patience, unmatched integrity, and extreme diligence.”

“People often remark on how easy going and personable Tiegan is while helping them
with their problems, and he is always cognizant of others' needs.”

Robin Wilson - Director of Student Academic Services, College of Veterinary Medicine
“She is respectful, trustworthy, and incredibly loyal to those who work for her.”

“Robin goes above and beyond in her daily responsibilities, but she also goes above and
beyond when caring for her staff. She goes out of her way to recognize them and make them feel like part of the Vet Med family."

Sheary Johnson – Administrative Assistant, Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center
“Sheary is the epitome of professionalism, always being the calm in the storm for this
unit.”

“Sheary does all of her work willingly and in the most effective and cheerful
way you could imagine.”

 

Lee Freeman – System Analyst Sr., Division of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources
“Lee is a cornerstone, she is equivalent to bringing in the artillery to battle, you know
you will be able to rely on her to come through on any task due to her commitment and drive to bring value to the project EVERY single time.”

“Lee can see the light at the end of the tunnel and she moves toward it, taking the rest
of us by the hand.”

 

Galadriel Lackey – Senior Library Tech II, Edmon Low Library
"She is inevitably happy to contribute however she can and brushes off any suggestion
to the contrary.”

“Gala is always willing to speak up and help a co-worker as needed. She is articulate and intelligent and she's someone I can count on.”

Jennifer Weaver – Computer Specialist, Fire Protection Publications, College of Electrical, Architecture and Technology
“Jen is a very positive and upbeat person. If you are having a bad day, she finds ways to
cheer you up. She also, will go out of her way to help anyone in need.”

“She goes above and beyond to respond to support needs of thousands of people each
month to ensure they are receiving high quality training and service. Her tenacity and heart of service have resulted in numerous instances of positive feedback.”

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2021 Distinguished Service Award Nominees

Beth Bridenstine
Tim Huff
Casey Oldenburg
Elizabeth Penland
Beth Powers
Steve Sawyer
Kristi Seuhs
Danyelle Talbot
Heather Yates