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Community Builder Brick Award Recipients for 2003
The following people were awarded brick awards in 2003 for their contributions to the community. Take a moment to see what their nominators had to say about what they have done to make CU a better place.
If you know others who should receive this recognition, click here to nominate them. View last year's award winners at 2002 Award Winners.
Lee Scriggins
Lee Scriggins has worked with the CU Office of Victim Assistance for four years, working tirelessly to support members of the CU community who have been affected by traumatic life experiences. She frequently goes beyond the call of duty to creatively advocate for victims of violence or lend support to bereaving community members. She is a true gem to our community.
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Shannon Smith
A compilation of comments regarding Shannon's nomination: I have realized her dedication to the Dennis Small Cultural Center and the CU community through the countless efforts she makes to fulfill the tasks her job entails. Shannon has worked in the Dennis Small Cultural Center for over 3 years, and continues to bring fresh perspective to our events and to the center as a whole. She reaches out to participants at the events on a human level (she entertained a 6 month old baby so his mother could free her hands for origami lessons; she consulted patiently with artists who contributed their works to the Dennis Small Cultural Center Art Exhibit, making sure their work was displayed in a way that respected their artistic sensibilities; she joins in with the dancing, yoga, or martial arts demonstrations so she can interact more easily with other participants.). Shannon Smith has demonstrated a consistent dedication to educating members of the CU community about many diverse facets of our community. She makes the facilitators and attendees alike feel welcome and supported by the center. I think she has a lot of good ideas for new events and wants to provide the CU community with fun events. Shannon has consistently worked to bring a variety of cultural programs to the CU campus, from African Dancing during Black History Month, to a a Women's Art Exhibit, to Balet Folklorico dancers in celebration of Mexican Independence Day. She constantly monitors events to see that everything runs smoothly and efficiently, and provides ambience for the event with music, food (when the event is catered), comfortable seating, lighting, and room temperature. Working in the Dennis Small Cultural Center is not just a job to Shannon, she is passionate about getting students and people involved in all the events we host. She has a liveliness and friendliness that puts people at ease. Shannon is like a cinnamon bear...genuine as a care-bear, sweet, yet spicy, and loves to bring the other cinnamon bears together for a little African drumming, Halloween fun, musical chairs, salsa dancing, and interactive theater. She is always trying to make sure that all the details are in place, and runs every event with efficiency. Her energy and commitment to projects are contagious. She has become a role model to all students working in the Dennis Small Cultural Center. Shannon has not only contributed to our office, but she has dedicated her time to the community by volunteering at several places. Shannon's enthusiasm has been the energy source for our office, and she has been a role model to me since I started working here. Shannon's efforts to educate CU students have enriched many lives, helped the Dennis Small Cultural Center grow and develop, and aided in the continuing effort to build community on the CU campus.
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Courtney Baggett
Courtney was instrumental in making the 40th annual celebration honoring the civil rights march on Washington a reality on campus. Courtney organized and arranged for hotel and lodging for our keynote speaker, assisted with the choosing and preparation of the route, contacted local vendors to co-sponsor the event, arranged for the t-shirts that were handed out, and helped in the overall visioning and planning for the event.
Courtney was dedicated and could be relied on to complete any tasks she volunteered for in this undertaking, often times serving as a focal point for information gathering and sharing with the planning group. Courtney provided energy and substance for this community event - all the while keeping up her student status!
If ever there was an individual who exemplifies a "Community Builder" it is her in this instance. Without her work and energy, the even would not have been a success!
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Robyn Sandekian & Scarlett Ponton De Dutton
Ralphie's Resource Center is managed by two friendly, professional, and resourceful women. Both ladies are incredibly competent and serve the students in a cheerful, helpful manner. I have visited the office on numerous occasions to ask scheduling questions, location-based questions, and academically-oriented questions. On each occasion, I have been treated with the utmost respect and kind-heartedness. All of my questions have been answered.
I began using Ralphie's Resource Center as a tool in my academic career. I discovered that all my questions could be answered by going to one primary place. If by chance the ladies, either Robyn or Scarlett, were unable to help me with a question, they would make the necessary contacts to provide me with answers. They do all that they can that is within their power to help students.
I have oftentimes visited Ralphie's only to use the computer, and have found myself listening in to the friendly dialogue they carry on with students. People leave Ralphie's with smiles on their faces.
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Ben Davis
Ben will be graduating this May. He has been involved in Program Council his entire college career. Here are just a few remarks from his co-workers and staff:
" I remember Ben's first summer as Program Council Director. He was here all the time, he put in more hours than full time staff members and he concentrated all his energy and intelligence on the Dave Matthews Band concert and in learning the specifics of how to be the PC Director. He has a low-key, laid back manner, but he is always working hard and he genuinely cares about other people and their problems."
" Ben Davis has a commitment to making CU a more enjoyable place for students and the CU community. He does this through his leadership of the organization which provides entertainment opportunities for the campus. He always strives to ensure that the entertainment needs of the community are met so that students, in particular, have options on how to spend their leisure time. Programs that he helps sponsor typically have some form of an educational component to them, whether by having students involved in Program Council learn from professionals outside the university, to providing a master classes as part of the program for the audience to participate in. He has always been invested in passing on to other students what he has learned from his own co-curricular experiences. Ben is truly a first class community builder."
" Ben has inspired me to work hard my first year working for PC. He recognized my hard work and commended me for it whenever he could."
" Ben deserves this award hands down. He makes the work environment a fun atmosphere while at the same time motivating our staff to excel. He is a very east guy to talk to and cares a lot about the people who work for him. His hard work and dedication have propelled this organization leaps and bounds from where it was prior to his involvement."
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Dr. Lynn Snyder
Dr. Lynn Snyder has made CU a better place for instructors through her three year commitment as chair of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Through Lynn's leadership, instructors have found a safe place to pursue their scholarly interests and, in return, to contribute fully to the University of Colorado campus. Lynn took a leadership stance in our department in implementing the Instructor Bill of Rights and creating a respectful environment so that those of us in instructor positions could receive the acknowledgement and support that we deserve. She was instrumental in implementing a merit evaluation system that appropriately looked at the contributions of instructors. She personally supported me as an instructor by giving me an equal voice in departmental decisions; acknowledging my contributions in an environment of respect, dignity, and appreciation; and seeking to use my strengths in the fullest way. Through her model, the attitude toward all instructors has been improved in our department and the groundwork has been laid for instructors to grow to their fullest potential at CU.
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Gabriella Chapman
Gabriella is the village well for the Ethnic Living Learning Community (ELLC). Everyone that comes into contact with Gaby knows what I'm talking about. Her smile is an invitation to friendship and a world made up of deep caring, acceptance and humor.
Students in the ELLC lover her. Creating an intentional multicultural community requires patience and faith. I have watched Gaby in the eye of the storm. She has guided the ELLC through many conflicts that were both challenging and transforming. Gaby also believes in focusing on the strengths of a group which endears her to students. The heart of any community is its belief in itself and the commitment to appreciate and respect differences. Gaby does all of this with great heart.
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Deb Coffin
Deb is the Director of Housing. Through this role, she excels at gathering resident student input and transforming that input into action. She oversees all of dining services, residence life, and more! By always being willing to work for the good of the student, she has made vast improvements to the quality of life within the residence halls, and has made the jobs of the staff of the Department of Housing much more student responsive. One example of this is that in the current Capital Plan book, she left space for student input from the Residence Hall Association, the student government of the residence halls. By allowing for this input on capital spending, students are able to see how being involved in their communities can produce direct results.
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Clark Oldroyd
Clark Oldroyd, Vice President of the CU Alumni Association, is a quiet force modestly and effectively working to keep students and alumni connected to the university. In addition to his administrative duties, Clark serves as liaison to the association's affinity groups (American Indian Inter-Tribal, Black Alumni, Hispanic Alumni, and LBGT Clubs, to name a few) helping them with funding, membership, events and other needs. He also administers scholarship programs for alumni chapters and the Parents Association, helping students to continue their education. Most people don't know that Clark was an early leader of the CU Parents Association in the 1980's when it was part of the Alumni Association, and that he's a Student Affairs professional at heart!
Over the years, Clark has organized reunions and other activities to bring CU students, alums and friends together on the boulder campus and in other cities. He also regularly attends campus events, such as the annual Equity and Excellence Awards Banquet, student graduation ceremonies, and awards presentations.
Everyone who works with Clark says that he is always available to provide any assistance needed. His commitment to the university, students, staff, faculty and friends is sincere and enduring, and he is a true community builder on the Boulder campus and a great person for this award!
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Joe Desai
During our freshman year, my friend and I were lucky enough to be able to spend some quality time with a Williams Village cafeteria worker named Joe. For us and many other students, Joe provided a much needed boost on a daily basis. He knows the names of just about every student, and he always provides a warm greeting to anyone who enters the cafeteria. I think this ability and desire to enthusiastically offer optimism and greeting is exceptional and noteworthy. What's more, my friend and I were lucky enough to have a deeper relationship with Joe. He came by our table very often at breakfast and dinner to stop and talk for a few minutes. He showed honest concern for our personal well being as college students, and he was always interested in our endeavors such as running and academics. I know that Joe has been a highlight of the Will Vill experience for my friend, myself, and many other students, and for that he deserves recognition. Joe truly embodies the spirit of building a healthy, positive, and accepting community at CU-Boulder.
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Matthew Lopez-Phillips
Matthew has been a dedicated member of the CU community for several years and has never stopped working to better the community for all students and staff since he first stepped foot onto this campus. Matthew began by working within the Department of Housing in charge of Judicial Affairs and has worked his way up to the Director of Judicial Affairs at CU-Boulder. Few parallel Matthew's dedication to this community. He is always willing to come in early and stay late to get the job done. Matthew's job is a tough one on this campus in regards to having to make difficult decisions regarding student's futures, but Matthew never misses a moment to educate students and to be a role model and mentor to those students that need it. In many cases, Judicial Affairs is given many problems to solve without receiving much glory, but through this Matthew steps up to do what is right for the campus. It is my honest belief that this university is a better place because of Matthew. On a personal note, Matthew has been a dear colleague and close friend that ahs made my experience at CU a great one. I received this award a month ago and must honestly say that there is no way I would be where I am today or would have been in a position to have received the award without the assistance of Matthew. It is my great pleasure to call Matthew a colleague and close friend, and I can think of no one more deserving of this award.
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