Dec. 20, 2007

Helt		Mabery		Murphy		Nourse		Stevens		Thompson

College presents Thompson Staff Excellence Awards 

Morningside College has presented its 2007 Thomas S. Thompson Staff Excellence Awards to Vic Helt, general maintenance; Dan Mabery, director of residential life; Lisa Murphy, administrative assistant for institutional advancement; Ryan Nourse, assistant football coach and defensive coordinator; Sue Stevens, work study/student financial coordinator; and Becky Thompson, business office associate. Mabery also was named staff employee of the year.

Morningside President John Reynders presented the awards at the annual holiday and recognition banquet held Wednesday, December 19, in the Olsen Student Center on Morningside’s campus. Award recipients will each receive a $4,000 bonus. As employee of the year, Mabery will receive $5,000.

Funding for the annual awards comes from an endowment established by Margaret Thompson, wife of the late Thomas S. Thompson, who served as president of Morningside from 1969 to 1978. He died in 1999.

Recipients were selected based upon their demonstration of outstanding dedication, service and commitment to Morningside and its students during the 2006-2007 academic year. Selection criteria include the nominees’ contributions to their respective departments, their representation in campus organizations and their service and volunteer efforts towards fulfilling the college’s mission.

Helt, a Sergeant Bluff resident, joined Morningside in 2002. His responsibility for maintenance and repair in some of the college’s residence halls and apartments puts Helt in regular contact with more than more than 500 students. The award cited Helt for the courtesy and respect he shows those students.

Mabery, who lives in Sioux City, has served as residence life director at Morningside since 2003. He was recognized for helping to enhance on-campus experiences for students in Morningside’s residence halls and apartments and for building a sense of community for students. According to the award citation, Mabery’s work on many of the college’s committees, task forces and teams also has contributed to the enrichment of the on-campus experience for Morningside students.

Murphy, a Sioux City resident, came to work at Morningside in 1991.  For all but four years, she has served as administrative assistant in the college’s institutional advancement department. Reynders cited Murphy for playing a major role in supporting the largest fund-raising campaign in Morningside’s history. He also noted her efforts to improve communication to alumni and friends through the Internet and the college’s Web site.

Nourse, who lives in Sioux City, joined Morningside in 2001 as assistant football coach and defensive coordinator. The award cited Nourse for his work with students both on and off the football field.  In addition to his coaching and teaching duties, Nourse serves as a mentor for at-risk students and tutors students who need help in history and political science.   Earlier this year, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) named Nourse the 2007 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ Assistant Coach of the Year.

Stevens, also from Sioux City, came to work for Morningside in 1988. In 2004, she started in her current position as work study/student financial coordinator. The award cited Stevens for her efforts with students to help them find work-study jobs both on and off campus. She also works with prospective students and their parents to help them understand and explore financial aid options available to them.

Thompson, a resident of Lawton, joined Morningside in 1998. The award cited her focus on providing excellent customer service in the college’s business office, especially for students and their parents.