Difference Makers

January 2024 | Brittany Nathan

Brittany is a great role model for the RA’s on campus! She doesn’t hesitate to stop and visit with a student or RA if they have a question. She is patient and kind. Brittany works hard to make sure the students have a good living environment where lifelong memories can be made. Brittany is also very helpful working with student leaders for New Student Orientation and training them in their roles. As a co-advisor for NSLS, she is instrumental in helping make sure the students complete the necessary steps to be inducted. She is willing to help with anything and is great at brainstorming. We are fortunate to have Brittany on staff at VCSU!

February 2024 | Wayne Kuntz and Paul Thilmony

Wayne and Paul, the dynamic duo, went above and beyond last Christmas to make VCSU stand out in the Parade of Lights in Valley City to kick off the holiday season. From fixing the Viking ship float to riding the parade, they made VCSU look great to our community and had fun doing it. They both routinely give their best to VCSU and ooze Viking pride! Wayne and Paul support all VCSU events including athletics, Staff Senate events and more, and you can always hear them down the hall laughing, coffee cups in hand. Wayne and Paul truly show that they are team players and help wherever they can, whenever they can. Thank you!

March 2024 | Seth Auka

Seth is fairly new to VCSU, but he has made quite an impression on anyone he has worked with so far. His pleasant, courteous manner adds to the fantastic work he does for the campus. Seth is very organized and works hard to please. He completes work quickly and is always sure to leave the space cleaned up and looking better than it had previously. Seth takes initiative for other things he sees needing attention. He is conscientious, self-motivated, and even keeps a list of things that he can do to fill time between other projects. Seth takes pride in his work, and we are proud to recognize him for the difference he makes at VCSU every day!

April 2024 | Erin Edinger

The Facilities Services team nominated Erin, saying “We appreciate how Erin fosters the partnership between Facilities and Housing. Erin has great communication, which is critical in ensuring that the students are being taken care of, as well as maintaining the residence halls. Her customer service skills to campus and visitors sets a high bar. She makes our job easy when it comes to the residence halls!” A very deserving “Difference Maker.” Thank you for all you do for VCSU, Erin!

May 2024 | Morgan Hopewell

Morgan has adapted well to VCSU and has been outstanding in her new position. She has been very helpful and quick to respond to emails and requests, which makes working with her very easy. She has a welcoming personality and is always willing to help others. She goes above and beyond to make sure the job gets done. Morgan answers a wide range of questions about building needs and scheduling, and we’re never left wondering what’s next. She went above & beyond in helping with the Math Competition and that was a big reason the day was a success! We are very lucky to have Morgan Hopewell on the VCSU Team!

June 2024 | Erin Heide

Erin Heide is a difference maker to her own department! She started the 2023-24 academic year with a team of four new admission counselors. She made the transition into our new roles very easy. Erin has shown incredible patience as we have all learned the ropes and have asked many, many, many questions! She does all this while serving on many different campus committees. Her commitment to this office and campus is why she is our Difference Maker!

July 2024 | Haley Jo Jenrich

Our favorite thing about Haley is that whenever she comes across a question she doesn’t know the answer to, she replies with “I’m going to add that to my list of things to learn about.” It’s more than just finding out the answer to the question, she seeks to understand the entire situation. She approaches sensitive conversations with positivity and understanding, and without placing blame. She wants others to learn and grow through what they don’t know yet as well. We all enjoy getting to work with Haley and think she is a great leader for our campus!

August 2024 | Jody Henjum

After a 24-year career at Valley City State University, Jody is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and warmth. Joining in 2000, she has enriched our institution through her work in graduate studies, academic affairs, and the President’s Office. Her reliability and exceptional work ethic have set a high standard, while her remarkable sense of humor, even on the busiest days, has been much needed and appreciated. She fostered a welcoming atmosphere where anyone with a question or in need of a quick laugh could find both support and joy. Her unwavering commitment and dedication to the school have made a lasting impact. As she retires, we celebrate her invaluable contributions and the joy she has brought to our community, knowing she will be deeply missed and has truly been a Difference Maker.

September 2024 | Jonathan Thornhill

Jonathon is the assistant baseball coach. He loves coming to work every day, and he is always a joy to work with. He works extremely hard on the upkeep and improvement of the baseball field, administrative duties, and the on-field improvement of our baseball players. The truly special thing about Jonathon is how much he cares about both his fellow staff members that he works with and the players that he coaches. He truly wants the relationships to be real and caring ones. This is so special because people in the coaching industry typically see relationships as more transactional. Jonathon is the opposite of that, and he is one of the few real coaches that genuinely cares about everyone that he works with and coaches. This past month, while the head baseball coach was out of town for the first half of August, Jonathon not only took care of his duties, but also took care of many of the head coach’s duties. He did all of this work while taking the time to still talk frequently with our student-athletes and ensure their personal growth.

September 2024 | Kathleen Gallais 

Kathleen is a valuable asset to our department. She takes pride in her job and consistently goes above and beyond for her coaches and colleagues, and as an athletic trainer for all our athletes at VCSU. Kat cares for her athletes to the highest level. The kindness and compassion she gives to her athletes is outstanding. Kathleen has impacted so many of our student-athletes in such a positive way. Her knowledge and personality allow her to build relationships with everyone she works with, and she truly cares about everyone she sees, whether it’s VCSU athletes or athletes from an opposing team. She has been such a blessing to the Volleyball program; she is a difference maker!

October 2024 | Shannon Hone

Shannon’s hard work and expertise make her invaluable to VCSU. Her professional approach to everything is vital to official VCSU processes: handling university data, international visas, NAIA eligibility, awarding of degrees, and more. Shannon works with professors and students on class adjustments and transcripts, via an already heavy workload. Shannon’s work requires great diligence, attention to detail, and late hours to ensure VCSU’s records are accurate. Despite her many commitments, Shannon also served on the library’s hiring committee and played a valuable role in interviewing candidates and ultimately helping to choose the next Director of Library Services – offering helpful feedback and ideas for the library in the process. Shannon’s impact on VCSU may go unsung, but her relentless work behind the scenes personifies a “difference maker”. She embodies someone with high intention and ethics who provides sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution.