Dec. 18, 2009

Dreessen	Kleinhesselink	Pflipsen

Small	Ten Napel	Williams

Morningside College presents 2009 Thompson Staff Excellence Awards 

Morningside College has presented its 2009 Thomas S. Thompson Staff Excellence Awards to Karen Dreessen, alumni relations administrative assistant; Bonnie Kleinhesselink, accounts payable/business analyst; Andrew Pflipsen, area coordinator and coordinator for resident education; Randee Small, graphic design coordinator and webmaster; Karmen Ten Napel, coordinator of exploring studies and learning disabilities specialist; and Lori Williams, housekeeper. Small also was named staff employee of the year.

Morningside President John Reynders presented the awards at the annual holiday and recognition banquet held Dec.18 in the Olsen Student Center on Morningside’s campus. Award recipients each receive a $4,000 bonus. As employee of the year, Small receives $5,000.

Recipients were selected based upon their demonstration of outstanding dedication, service and commitment to Morningside and its students during the 2008-2009 academic year.

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.

Dreessen joined Morningside in 2006. As administrative assistant for alumni relations, she plays a major role in updating the college’s alumni records and coordinating a variety of events, such as homecoming.

Kleinhesselink has worked in Morningside’s business office for 15 years. Her job responsibilities include helping students, faculty and staff with a variety of issues related to payment, billing, purchasing and budget.

Pflipsen came to work for Morningside in 2006.  He supervises and mentors the head residents in Dimmitt Hall, the college’s largest dormitory, and is advisor for the Morningside Activities Council, a student-run group that organizes and schedules events on campus.

Small, who has worked at Morningside for 21 years, coordinates graphic design for a wide range of Morningside publications, admissions materials, print ads and PowerPoint presentations. She also serves as the college’s webmaster.

Ten Napel joined Morningside in 2002. In addition to working with students who are exploring options for an academic major and tutoring students with learning disabilities, she also teaches a section of the first-year seminar course and advises freshmen.

Williams has worked for 10 years in the college's custodial department. Her main responsibility is the Residence Complex, which houses approximately 90 Morningside students.