One of the most popular programs in the Above & Beyond Customer Service series, the "Traveling Trophy" circulated around campus, recognizing campus offices and teams who provide exceptional customer service to internal and external customers.

Monday, November 11, 2002
The Traveling Trophy made its first appearance at the Customer Service Kickoff held the afternoon of Monday, November 11.

College employees enjoyed hot apple cider and assorted delectables from Catering Services while learning about current and future Above & Beyond events and activities.

The Office of Human Resources, originator of the Above & Beyond Traveling Trophy, presented the award to members of the Information Technology Services department for "providing service above and beyond our expectations every day and for projects!"

With the Traveling Trophy in the hands of proud recipients, the ITS staff now faced the challenge of determining what department/team in which to present the trophy on the following Monday. Grasping their well-deserved icon, IT staff members headed back to their "temporary" locations in Darby Gymnasium and on Broad Street, whispering who would most likely earn the award.

Pictured above right: ITS staff members Dave Ellis, Carlie Van Willigen, Mark Watts, Bill Francis, Denise May and Brent Jaeger.

Monday, November 18, 2002
The bright, though cold, Monday morning of November 18, several IT staff entered the Old Glove Factory on Broad Street. Bill Francis, Director of ITS entered the Accounting office, doughnuts in hand and trophy tucked under his arm. Amidst the surprised expressions and blushing cheeks, ITS declared Accounting second recipient of the Above and Beyond Traveling Trophy.

According to the IT staff, Accounting deserves the Traveling Trophy for "cheerfully helping ITS untangle the complicated web of transactions we often weave!"

Pictured at right: standing-Diane Ferneau, Terry Baird, Barb York, Cindi Andes, Amy Anderson and kneeling-Sue Feisel and Marsha Maschmann.

Monday, November 25, 2002
With a mad dash up Park Street, a cloaked group entered the warmth of Nollen House, second home to the President, Dean and Associate Deans of the College. Mysteriously they climbed the first set of stairs, toward Dean Jim Swartz's busy office. Phones ringing, photocopier churning - the week was well underway in the stately white house and no amount of mystery would quelch the buzz of a Monday morning in academia.

It was at this moment that representatives from the Accounting office presented the Traveling Trophy to staff of the Dean and Associate Deans' offices for "the consistent & timely response to our pleas for assistance." Surprisingly the phones quieted down and the photocopier paused just long enough for staff to revel in pride. The trophy now resides on the second floor of Nollen, sharing attention with the same noisy phone and waiting - waiting for its next passage.



Pictured above: Terri Phipps, Mary Wells, Dean Jim Swartz, Val McKee and Angie Story.

Monday, December 2, 2002
It was a meeting scheduled like any other. Carol Trosset and Scott Baumler, Institutional Research, prepared for their Nollen visitors, when suddenly they realized that the visit had a mysterious unspecified agenda. What could be the meaning of this? Little did Carol and Scott know that members of the Associate Deans' and Dean's Offices were sneaking through the door of the John Chrystal Center with a balloon, chocolates and the increasingly famous Traveling Trophy. "Thank you," said the gift-givers, "for all of your patient and prompt assistance with turning our "input" into "output" that makes sense." Were the researchers surprised?
Statistics show...... Amazement.

Pictured above: Scott Baumler, Carol Trosset, Institutional Research

Monday, December 9, 2002
Like all diligent and determined researchers, Scott and Carol analyzed who would next enjoy the Traveling Trophy. Through proper channels, a meeting was arranged that would take the Chrystal Center habitants on a journey ~ far away ~ to a land known as 'Ye Olde Glove Factory.

And on this day, recognition was bestowed upon the Benefits and Insurance staff - Linda Folkerds, Ev Ferraz and Jim Mulholland for "keeping everyone informed, with reliable dedication, of vital material."

Pictured above - Linda Folkerds, Jim Mulholland (standing), and Ev Ferraz

Monday, January 6, 2003
The Traveling Trophy has mastered its way around the college campus! Electricians in the Facilities Management department were recognized for "their expedient, professional and personal care with lighting issues at the Old Glove Factory." When presented with the trophy by the Benefits and Insurance staff, these three really "lit" up! Well deserved, guys!

Pictured at right: Scott Cooper, Rex Arthur, Mark McLaughlin, Facilities Management

Monday, January 13, 2003
The Traveling Trophy didn't have to go far when it was presented by campus electricians to the front-office staff in the Office of Facilities Management. Note: the balloon is a popular embellishment to the trophy (it magically inflates with each new transfer!)

Pictured at right: Kari DeJong and Terri Stark, Facilities Management

Wednesday, January 22, 2003
There is a little blue house on Broad Street - actually it's a huge two-story with white trim and a second-story sun porch - that justifies mention. The residents of this "house" have just recently been deemed recognition-worthy! Members of the Campus Information Services team currently tenant the Traveling Trophy, given because of "...their quick responses to our pleas of help and their innovative ideas making our daily process easier!" I'll bet the rent is cheap!

Pictured above: Brent Jaeger, Phil Bartachek, Andy Albers, Wayne Twitchell and Deb Amundson, Campus Information Services

Tuesday, January 28, 2003
The ITS Campus Information Services team gave these three the Traveling Trophy because they get calls at 1:00 a.m. to nurse campus servers with debilitating viruses. And they passed the trophy to Dave, Mike P. and Mike W. because they spend hours on end in a room that hums techno ballads and pulsates - just like you've seen in those 50's sci-fi flicks. They also earned this recognition because they ensure we have "reliable and secure systems with dependable networking of those systems, every day." The tophy is presented... "With recognition of the Networking Team’s tireless efforts to address occasional urgent systems issues quickly, efficiently, and conscientiously - day or night."


Pictured above: Dave Ellis, Mike Pifer and Mike Wilkins, Network Services, ITS.

Monday, February 10, 2003
Despite the magazine mountains and the paper trails, the cramped (and hustling-bustling) Mail Services always has room for recognition. According to the Network Team, these ladies "consistently and quickly receive and ship all of our mail." Not only that but they politely shared the Traveling Trophy with their many student employees.


Pictured at left: Geraldine Sanders and Melissa Salmon, Mail Services.

Friday, February 14, 2003
Happy Heart Day, Student Affairs!
from Mail Services

You are appreciated for... "helping us in the Mail Services keep student lists current, boxes updated, keeping us informed of leaves, withdraws, etc. All so we can keep our department running efficiently and smoothly. Thank you a bunch!

Pictured at right: Back-Brenda Strong and Dorothy Martinek; Front-Carol Ahrens and Joyce Hauser.

Monday, February 24, 2003
Student Affairs knows who to make friends with...

Day in, day out, the Office of Campus Security assures us safety in their behind-the-scenes way, so it's fitting that they have been bestowed with the very public traveling trophy award. Reiterates Student Affairs staff--"They are available 24 hours a day for almost anything. Security is a relatively new department that picks up what 'emergency' tasks we used to do."

And with security needs met, that allows everyone on campus -staff, faculty and students- to concentrate on doing the best job possible, including providing exceptional customer service to others.

Pictured above: Amy Coleman, Johnathan Smith and Tina Austin, Security.

Thursday, March 6 and Thursday, March 13, 2003
The campus community sure does appreciate all of the hard work diligence and creativity from Facilities Management staff!

For a second time, the Facilities Management front office staff have earned the Traveling Trophy. A week later recognition was passed to the campus custodians for their unending contributions to Grinnell College. Campus custodians are listed below.

Donald R. Cobb, Jerry C. Van Ommen, Luvica L. Ervin, Linda K. Gerard, Carolyn L. Weisskopf, Susan L. Shoup, Junella B. Adkins, Catherine J. Ronfeldt, Ronald J. Moranville, Barbara A. Hall, Henry C. Ronfeldt, Lila M. McCammant, Jeff J. Hill, Karen M. Groves, Lois M. Innis, Karl R. O’Polka, Robert L. Rehling, Francine R. Bryant, Donna J. Ballard, Carol A. Van Renterghem, Kimberly A. Puls, Marianne Collum, Gerald D. Ford, Bev L. Van Maanen, Cathryn Burns, Carol A. Anderson, Ronda M. Ives, Brenda Farrell, Arthur L. Jones, Suzanne Posekany, Patricia Bair, Sylvia Rehling, Eldon Thompson, Tom Pirkl, Barb McCulley, Connie Heyveld, Paulette Claypool, Troy Dunsmoor, Jackie Kriegel, Glenda Griffith, Dusty Hamilton, Mindy Kaisand, Todd Schmidt, Ken Breiting, Willard Wille, Darlo Kelting and Tony Denato.

Pictured above: The new Facilities Management facility on 1917 6th Ave., headquarters to our campus custodians.

Monday, March 31
There was a secret going around that Monday morning. Barb York, Payroll, was the secret. Mysteriously, flowers appeared in the office and were soon followed by unexpected visitors who (much to her surprise!) presented the Traveling Trophy to the Payroll function (Barb).


Photo above: Willard Wille and Don Cobb, representing the Facilities Management Custodians, present Barb York of Payroll with the Traveling Trophy.

Monday, April 7
Barb York is quite familiar with the Traveling Trophy. She has received it several times since its inception the Fall of 2002. She also knows initiative and a helpful attitude when she sees it. To prove so, she recognized those very qualities in her co-workers Marsha Maschmann and Amy Anderson of the Accounting office. Kudos to our colleagues!

Photo at right: Marsha Maschmann, Barb York and Amy Anderson, Accounting.

Tuesday, April 22
What a busy place - the Physical Education Complex or more commonly referred to as the "PEC." But who better to keep it all under contral than Mary Kissinger and Patty Johnson, the PEC office staff? With schedules to coordinate, game statistics to report and energy bouncing off the walls, Mary and Patty maintain calm and collected attitudes. Accounting staff noticed and recognized them with a bright balloon and the ever brighter Traveling Trophy.

Photo at left: Mary Kissinger and Patty Johnson, PEC Office.

Tuesday, April 29
It's the end of April. As many of us are reflecting on the departure of another group of graduating seniors, the Admission staff are releasing the next wave of admitted students onto campus. Admission staff are forward-thinkers, you could say. According to those in the Physical Education Complex, Admission provides incoming athletes with the very best welcome possible and for this the traveling trophy is "forwarded" on to them.



Photo above: Seated - Nettie Vaverka, Julie Owens, Sue Barnes. Standing - Patty Johnson (presenter), Mary Phipps, Ann Orton, Marcia Duffus, Judy Galloway, Sondi Burnell, Mary Kissinger (presenter), Admission Staff.

Friday, May 9, 2003
'Tis commencement for many, including the Traveling Trophy. But before the journey ends, the Traveling Trophy visited one more well-deserving campus member. June Adkins, Facilities Management, has a big responsibility at the John Chrystal Center. She adds more sparkle to an already well-lit facility. June, your personal touch deserves notice.




Photo above: Front - Sondi Burnell, June Adkins (recipient), Julie Owens. Middle - Sue Barnes, Faun Black, Judy Galloway. Back - Ann Orton, Nettie Vaverka, Mary Phipps, Admisson and Facilities Management.

What happens next for the Trophy? A little mending, some rest and (maybe) retirement...