Pavek Hall director Kimberly Buckley received the prestigious Mary McCannel Gunkelman Recognition Award during a ceremony May 1 at the Memorial Union Great Plains room. The honor goes to the student, faculty or staff member who has made the most significant and unselfish contribution to a happy environment at NDSU.
“I love my job and I love working for the students,” Buckley said. “I’m overwhelmed. As a first-year hall director, I definitely didn’t expect this. I think you spend the first year trying to learn your job and holding your head above water, so this is absolutely an honor.”
One nomination for Buckley said she is “filled with smiles, and fills everyone around her with smiles.” Another nomination said Buckley is “one of those people whose zest for life and naturally bubbly personality shines through in all she does.” Another letter of support said, “She always has a smile on her face and is willing to help.”
Buckley is a native of Toledo, Ohio. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Bowling Green State University and her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Lourdes University, Sylvania, Ohio.
A total of 44 nomination letters placed 21 NDSU faculty, staff and students in contention for the honor.
“When you hear the stories of the contributions these individuals make and the tone that they set within our university community, you are reminded of how important what we do is,” said President Dean L. Bresciani of the nominees during the presentation ceremony. “This is one of the most important awards because it is about the Bison family.”
Student nominees included Caleb Hamilton, criminal justice; Rebecca Hummel, health education; and James Schanandore, zoology.
Staff nominees included Theresa Anderson, human development and family science; Buckley; Linda Dearinger, Dining Services; Austen Germolus, animal sciences; Jolene Hammer, Residence Life; Louise Heinz, plant sciences; Brad Jones, Office of Admission; Dan Krogen, Facilities Management; Cheryl Long, Facilities Management; Timothy McCue, Residence Life; Linda Murphy, Bison Connection; Amber Rasche, Information Technology Services; Debra Sorenson, Dining Services; and LaVon Whipple, Dinning Services.
Faculty nominees included Garry Goreham, sociology and anthropology; Larry Napoleon, School of Education; Cheryl Wachenheim, agribusiness and applied economics; and Alan Zuk, plant sciences.
The award was established in 1987. It is named in honor of Mary McCannel Gunkelman, a 1942 graduate of the NDSU College of Home Economics who died in 1985.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.
