Nominees

• Annukka Thelen, Office of Certification and Accreditation 

• Dr. Nykia Gaines, TRIO 

• Kathy Agee, Michigan Science Olympiad Program   

• Estefany Paniagua-Pardo, Battle Creek Regional Outreach Center 

• Justin Melick, eLearning, IT Services

• Kimberly Kenward, eLearning, IT Services

This is the highest honor bestowed upon Administrative Professional staff at Grand Valley State University. The award recognizes the singularly outstanding contributions by a staff member to the University, professional field, and surrounding community. The recipient embodies the University's mission, vision, and values and bring distinction to GVSU through their work. 

Nykia Gaines

Dr. Nykia Gaines is Associate Vice President for Federal TRIO Programs. Under her leadership, GVSU now proudly hosts 11 federal TRIO programs, the most of any Michigan college or university. TRIO serves more than 2,450 people in Grand Rapids and Detroit, a testament to her commitment to educational equity. These efforts have been supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Education totaling $17.4 million over five years, further underscoring the impact of her work. 

Nominees

• Kathy Agee, Regional Math and Science Center 

• Melissa Baker-Boosamra, Office of Student Life 

• Kimberly Kenward, eLearning, IT Services 

• Justin Melick, eLearning, IT Services 

This award recognizes an individual AP staff member who has gone above and beyond professional responsibilities in contributing their expertise and service to at least one of the following: (1) the GVSU community, (2) the professional organization of their discipline, or (3) the local/national/international community.

Kathy Agee

Program coordinator, Regional Math and Science Center

In her 15 years at Grand Valley, Kathy has provided significant service to GVSU, the West Michigan region, and the state.  While Kathy is well known for her work on the GVSU-hosted Regional Science Olympiad tournament, her service work goes well beyond that. She has served on the State Board for the Michigan Science Olympiad, served as event supervisors at tournaments in the upper peninsula, been instrumental in teacher professional development in West Michigan, and rappelled down Bridgewater Place to support Michigan residents with special needs.  In a letter of support, a colleague wrote that the Science Olympiad event “brings hundreds of students and their families to campus, many of whom become Lakers as a result of this experience. It’s an enormous responsibility and terrific recognition for GVSU. It works because Kathy has built the necessary relationships to successfully manage the project year after year.”

Nominees

• Lin Bardwell, Office of Multicultural Affairs 

• Joshua Brandsen, TRIO 

• Jeremy Paul, Office of Student Life 

Established to recognize an individual AP staff member who serves as an example to others through a commitment to diversity beyond the scope of their professional responsibilities. The nominee is a person who demonstrates through action the ideals of cultural diversity and interculturalism, and who helps others gain greater understanding of diversity and interculturalism.

Joshua Bransen

As the Director of the GVSU TRIO Upward Bound Grand Rapids program, Joshua works with first-generation, low-income students attending Innovation Central and Union High Schools. Joshua goes out of his way to ensure these students are set up for success and his work speaks for itself as 99% of participants who graduate high school go on to college, many of whom earn a full ride scholarship. Joshua is also known for being hands on and helping the students not only get their foot in the door, but also mentoring and tutoring when necessary while ensuring they have connections at whichever institution they attend.  His dedication to his students is exemplary and deserving of the Commitment to Diversity Award.

Nominees

• Phillip Todd, Office of Multicultural Affairs 

• Julliane Vazquez, TRIO Upward Bound Math Science -Wyoming 

• Emily First, Dean of Students Office 

• Jennifer Jameslyn, Brooks College Advising Center 

• Brenda Tooley, Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement 

• Michelle DeWitt, Chemistry Department 

• Cassonya Carter, KCON Office of Student Services 

• Brianna Slager, Office of Student Life 

• Bonnie Dykstra, University Counseling Center 

• Katelyn Johnson, Office of Financial Aid 

This award recognizes an individual AP staff member who shows a commitment to serve as a strong mentor to GVSU students beyond the person's normal professional responsibilities and regardless of their professional role. The nominee is a person who demonstrates trustworthiness and skills with students in the areas of advising, advocacy, referrals, listening, accessibility, and motivation. Nominations for this award must be either made or supported by at least one student.

Cassonya Carter (C.C.)

Cassonya (or known to many as Mama CeCe) is a Senior Academic Advisor in the Kirkhof College of Nursing Office of Student Services. CC goes above and beyond in mentoring, supporting and encouraging both current and prospective students. She is a listening ear when students encounter disappointment or celebrate success. Beyond her work in KCON, CC founded and established Voices of GVSU, a student gospel choir. She is also a founding member of GVSU oldest affinity group, Positive Black Women. CC is a dedicated champion of student success and countless students have her to thank for supporting them throughout their academic journeys and beyond. 

Nominees

• Amanda Rainey, Admissions & Recruitment Office 

• Susan Mendoza, Center for Scholarly & Creative Excellence 

• Joshua Brandsen, TRIO 

• Cody Eding, Enterprise Architecture team (IT) 

• Brian Snyder, Enterprise Applications team (IT) 

• Phillip Todd, Office of Multicultural Affairs 

• Troy Farley, Career Center 

This award recognizes an individual AP staff member whose innovative ideas and practices benefit the University in a specific way. This could include methods to improve cost-efficiency, changes in procedures, creating new programs or services, or leading new initiatives.

Phillip Todd & Troy Farley

Phillip Todd, Assistant director, Office of Multicultural Affairs

Troy Farley, Director, Career Center

Cuts at the Clock Tower was created when Troy and Philip found that students would not attend important events, like the Career fair, because they felt they didn’t look professional with their hair not done. This is the result of not having barbers or beauticians who specialize in coily/kinky hair within a 10-mile radius of the Allendale campus.   Troy and Philip found a Barber that could come to campus and they set up Cuts at the Clock Tower to support these students.  This idea is innovative, inclusive, student focused and they have also secured funding to continue this program into the 24-25 school year!  

Nominees

• LMS Blackboard Ultra Migration Project 

• Raiser's Edge NXT Project 

• GVSU Leadership Summit Team 

• HPC Team 

• Team Okta 

• Workday Finance Implementation Team 

• Inclusion and Equity Institute 

• Workday Platform Project Team 

This award recognizes the work of an ad-hoc team of AP staff members from two or more departments that accomplish a project benefiting the University. While the nominated project may be ongoing or not yet complete, nominations should emphasize work of staff members across unit lines during the past year.

Colleen Cameron, Katie Clark, Kelley Senkowski, Glenna Decker, Noah Campbell, Kyle Macciomei, Justin Melick, David Nivala, Matthew Roberts, Barbara Stevens, Vincent St. Germain, Stephanie Webber, Landon Nalepinski,  Mai Mohamed Nour - led by Kim Kenward

eLearning Team, Information Technology

The LMS Blackboard Ultra Migration Project was designed to provide a more user-friendly, feature-rich, and efficient platform for all users. The team created new faculty support models, redesigned training and professional development, and developed communication strategies.  According to one supporter, the project team provided technological and pedagogical support to over 1000 faculty. This helped faculty to build confidence and expertise as well as to rethink how to structure and present materials within the LMS.