CSB, SJU and OSB employees honored at three ceremonies

Three employee recognition events were held in May to honor administrative and support staff from the College of Saint Benedict, Saint John's University and the Order of Saint Benedict.

Employees were recognized for retirement and years of service. In addition, several special awards were presented.

Retirement

CSB/SJU – Del Brobst, Education; Melissa Dick, Education; Judy Eggert, Global Business Leadership and Accounting and Finance; Bonnie Kalla, Library; Shirley Kelly, Academic Affairs; David Malone, Library; Dan Sis, Media Services/IT Services; Cal Ryan-Mosley, Admission; Constance Schiff, Education; Roger Sorenson, IT Services.

CSB – Diane Calabria, External Grants Office; Mark Conway, Literary Arts Institute; Cynthia Dockendorf, President’s Office; Andy Dylla, Power Plant; Judy Hoeschen, Custodial; Mike Juntunen, Transportation; Christine Morgel, Culinary Services; Gerald Stegura, Transportation. 

SJU – Nancy Beutz, Custodial Services; Eva Haber, Custodial Services; Chick Hardy, Benedictine Institute; Mary Ann Haws, President’s Office; Geri Kampa, Business Office; Shirley Rausch, Business Office; Bill Saxton, Athletics.

OSB (includes Saint John's Abbey, Liturgical Press and Saint John's Preparatory School) – Bonita Heinen, Abbey Laundry; Kay Wagner, Abbey Retirement Center.

Five years

CSB/SJU – Jonathan Carlson, Library; Tiffany Clements, Marketing and Communications; Sheila Hellermann, Political Science; Anne Kaluza, Financial Aid; Kathy Krebs, Student Accounts; Robert Piechota Jr., Financial Aid; Danielle Schmiesing, Human Resources; Greg Skoog, Marketing and Communications; Courtney Sullivan, Marketing and Communications; Adia Zeman, Experience and Professional Development.

CSB – Lori Edelbrock, Culinary Services; Alex Hess, Athletics; Timothy Leavey, Security; Jeffrey Madden, Custodial Maintenance; Sarah Miller, Health Center; Constance Matz, Institutional Advancement; Jennifer Miller, Health Center; Katie Miller, Custodial; Maggie Utsch, Institutional Advancement; Brian Weisen, Custodial Maintenance; Adrienne Zeller, Events and Catering.

SJU – Henry Becker, Physical Plant; Jason Diederich, Dining Service; Michael Hemesath, President’s Office; Doris Kahlhamer, Custodial Services; Art Martinez, Dining Service; Brad Neary, Institutional Advancement; James Oster, Custodial Services; Cary Pogatchnik, Business Office; Fr. Nick Sherod-Kleepsie, OSB, Campus Ministry and Residential Life; Becky Van Ness, School of Theology; Mandy Wolvert, National Catholic Youth Choir.

OSB – Matt Beck, Saint John’s Prep; Catherine Donovan, Liturgical Press; Fr. Joseph Feders, OSB, Spiritual Life Program; Susan Kolb, Saint John’s Prep; Sherry Krebsbach, Saint John’s Prep; David Lorenz, Abbey Woodworking; Trisha Paulsen, Abbey Retirement Center; Cyle Paumen, Physical Plant-Carpentry; Jacob Rassier, Physical Plant-Electric Shop; Sharon Rothstein, Abbey Guesthouse; Erik Williamson, Liturgical Press.

10 years

CSB/SJU – Carol Abell, Human Resources; Erik Aschenbeck, Admission; Kevin Knodl, Fine Arts Programming; Adam Konczewski, Media Services; Kathy Olson, Student Employment.

CSB – Chris Brake, Grounds; Cynthia Dockendorf, President’s Office; Rebecca Lindom, Culinary Services; Deborah Linnemann, Institutional Advancement; Joan Pfannenstein, Culinary Services; Heather Pieper-Olson, Institutional Advancement; Katie Rock, Business Office.

SJU – Grace Ellens, School of Theology and Seminary; Kelli Gradin, McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship; Miranda Hiltner, Dining Service; Joanne Skaj, Custodial Services; Matthew Smiles, Life Safety; Barbara Sutton, School of Theology and Seminary; Jim Triggs, The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program.

OSB – Michael Becker, Liturgical Press; Robert Pogatschnik, Physical Plant-Preventative Maintenance; Jason Ziegler, Abbey Vocation Office.

15 years

CSB/SJU - Trish Doran, Student Activities and Leadership.

CSB – Rick Gray, Security.

SJU – Jim Dwyer, Institutional Advancement; Nancy Johnson, Institutional Advancement; Doris Matter, President’s Office; Jeremy Scegura, Business office; Kathryn Scegura, Campus Mail Center; Kerry Werlinger, Institutional Advancement.

OSB – Kay Wagner, Abbey Retirement Center.

20 years

CSB/SJU – Kenneth Cartwright, Theater; Teri Durbin, Admission; Debra Wolford, Fine Arts Programming.

CSB – Robin Balder-Lanoue, Athletics; Mike Beltinck, Transportation; Diane Calabria, External Grants; Andrew Deuhs, Custodial Maintenance; Sandy Konz, Custodial; Marcia Mahlum, Campus Recreation; Cynthia Rodenwald, Culinary Services.

SJU – Jack Bowe, Athletics; John Taylor, Institutional Advancement.

OSB – Lois Harren, Abbey Business Office.

25 years

CSB/SJU – Melissa Dick, Education.

SJU – Jim Gagliardi, athletics; Fr. Doug Mullin, OSB, Student Development.

OSB – Paul Stock, Physical Plant-Wastewater Operator; Michelle Verkuilen, Liturgical Press.

30 years

CSB/SJU – Karen Backes, Admission; John Clarkson, Experience and Professional Development; Mary Ruble Johnson, Admission; Colleen Lommel, IT Services; Jim Parsons, library; Rhonda Sauerer, Bookstore.

CSB – Andy Dylla, Power Plant.

SJU – John Cofell, Life Safety; Betty Loehlein, Dining Service-Sexton Commons; Greg Schirmers, Dining Service; Shawn Vierzba, Life Safety; John Young, Institutional Advancement.

OSB – Br. Benedict Leuthner, OSB, Abbey Business Office.

35 years

SJU – Janice Braegelmann, Dining Service-Sexton Commons; Fr. Columba Stewart, OSB, HMML.

OSB – Fr. Geoffrey Fecht, OSB, Saint John’s Abbey.

40 years

CSB/SJU – Sandra Dirkes. Financial Aid; Bonnie Kalla, Library; Julie Marthaler, Marketing and Communications, Dan Sis, Media Services/IT Services.

SJU – Jerry Haugen, Athletics.

Special awards

Fr. Vincent Tegeder, OSB/SJU Outstanding Administrator Award – Michael Roske, Abbey Woodworking. The award recognizes service and excellence within the Saint John's administrative community - someone who embodies the spirit of Saint John's, provides quality service and makes a powerful contribution to Saint John's.

“There are now a record number of volunteers in his department, and this is in no small way due to the tone (Roske) has set,” said SJU President Michael Hemesath, who presented the award. “He is certainly a master craftsman, attending to the stewardship of the land, the trees, the talent and the goals of producing beautiful, functional furniture and items for worship, service and play.

“His gregarious and welcoming personality is infectious, and he jovially gives life to others,” Hemesath added. “The following story told by one nominator exemplifies just this lively approach: ‘He does great work in the woodshop and is willing to give me credit for the mistakes I make!’ ”

The other nominees for the award were Daniel Gullo from the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library and Cathy Wieme from SJU Institutional Advancement.

“If you know Daniel, Michael or Cathy, it will come as no surprise that each of them was described in their individual nominations as being someone who raises the profile of Saint John’s in a positive way,” Hemesath said. “Each nominee … reflects the very best of the spirit of Saint John’s.”

CSB WOW Awards – The awards were given to 22 individuals who were recognized for "special" contributions and honors. The recipients were:

• The CSB/SJU accreditation team (consisting of Dick Adamson, Carie Braun, Holly Christie, Nancy Dueland, Kathryn Enke, Patti Epsky, Karen Erickson, Mary Geller, Fr. Dale Launderville, OSB, Cindy Malone, Barb May, Jon McGee, Fr. Doug Mullin, OSB, Miranda Novak, Susan Palmer, Greg Schroeder and Ben Stommes) – For thousands of hours of work to produce an outstanding accreditation report;
• Anne Sumangil (Director of Alumnae Relations, CSB Dance Team Coach) – For her work with the award-winning CSB Dance Teams;
• Mike Durbin (CSB basketball coach) – For leadership excellence in coaching and connecting with student-athletes off the court;
• CSB Volleyball Coaching Staff (head coach Nicole Hess and assistants Amanda Anderson and Heather Pieper-Olson) - For leading CSB to the MIAC Tournament title with a five-set win over the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.