May 17, 2010

Employees honored at DWU

Curt Hart

Dan Miller

Megan Mentzel

MITCHELL – Several Dakota Wesleyan University employees were honored May 6 at a special recognition luncheon.

Curt Hart, athletic director, received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Service. This award is chosen through special nomination to the president. The two qualities most cited in the letters for his recommendation were leadership by example and his ability to work with people.

One nomination letter read, “His hard work, dedication to DWU, and concern to create the best experiences for our coaches and students has left an indelible mark on DWU athletics. He continues to be the mentor, leader, and friend that each of us aspire to be in all that we do.”

Dan Miller, theatre director, received the Professional Excellence Award for a faculty member. Miller’s creativity and leadership roles on and off the stage contributed toward his nomination. He was the instigator of the new Bachelor of Fine Arts program at DWU and worked hard to bring the idea to fruition. He also put in numerous man hours in the planning and execution of the Founders’ Convocation and Patrons’ Banquet during Blue & White Days and the DWU float in the Parade of Lights.

Megan Mentzel, admissions counselor, received the Professional Excellence Award for a staff member. When an exchange student at DWU was rushed to hospitals in Mitchell and Sioux Falls after suffering a stroke, Mentzel contacted the agency in Ireland in order to inform his parents, went out of her way to assist the student and his family, and spent countless hours with him at both hospitals. When his parents flew in, Mentzel had arranged funding for groceries and housing and made trips to the airport and continued to check in on his progress.

Staff and faculty were chosen from a pool of quarterly winners that included Miller, Mentzel, Jesse Weins, Kristy O’Kief, Mark Halling and Jeanne Krome.

Length of service awards were presented to the following employees: 30 years: Randy Sprung and Jody Strand; 20 years: Jerry Luckett, Louie Schoenfelder and Gloria Thompson; 10 years: Robert Duffett and Anne Kelly; 5 years: Adam Anderson, Randi Christensen, Janice Ford, Jarod Guthmiller, Tina Hartley, John Hemenway, Adele Jacobson, Jessica Jarding, Morgan Krueger, Kristy O’Kief, Brad Pole, Rhonda Pole, Gretchen Rich and Kristen Windle.