Three win awards for making a difference
Emporia State University
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Emporia State University gave You Make A Difference awards this week to technology consultant Cory Falldine, student assistant Lindsey Unruh, and assistant professor Lori Mann.
“Cory is a terrific mentor for the Tech interns employed in Technology and Computing Services.,” said Cheryl O’Dell of Cory Falldine, technology and support consultant and one of the recipients of this month’s You Make a Difference Award. He is always willing to pitch in and lend a helping hand with anything he is asked to handle. ESU is lucky to have him.”
“I enjoy working with the users,” Falldine said. “Computers can be very frustrating things to work with and I find it rewarding to have the ability to make them a little less frustrating for our faculty, staff and students here at ESU. Anything to make work easier for them is a step in the right direction.”
Falldine works in desktop support and customer service for TCS, where he helps users across campus with computer or printer-related issues, He is also working on his master’s of business administration.
“The personnel here are wonderful,” Falldine said. “Everyone is friendly and easy to
work with. That makes my job worthwhile.”
Lindsey Unruh is the student assistant in the Research and Grants Center on campus and has been a key player in her department’s transition to the new Banner Finance system. She is a senior accounting major with an English minor and also serves as treasurer of the Accounting Club.
“She is a shining example of the quality of our student employees,” said Pam Fillmore, Director of the Research and Grants Center.
“I never expected to find a job on campus that has given me such a great experience,” Unruh said, “This is something I will definitely appreciate when I graduate. The people in the Research and Grants office and Graduate Office are caring and great to get along with. They have set a good example of dedication to faculty and students and are always working to make ESU a great place to be.”
Lori Mann has not only served ESU for 16 years but also completed both her bachelors and master’s degree at ESU while completing her PhD at the University of Kansas.
“ESU is a wonderful place,” Mann said. “The campus is very student centered and people truly care. This environment is more than a job or a school, it’s a campus of friends. We are fortunate to have such strong academic programs in an atmosphere that encourages individuals to do their best.”
Mann is an assistant professor in the early childhood/elementary teacher program. She teaches reading and elementary education classes, serves as an advisor to distance elementary education majors and coordinates the Reading and Academic Success Center.
“Lori does it all with a smile, a warm regard for all she meets, and
a willing, cheerful spirit,” said Dr. Jean Morrow, Mann’s nominator. “Lori makes a difference at The Teachers College, in the lives of her students, and for the ESU community.”
“I love working with students to help them better prepare for their field of study,” Mann said. “It is very exciting to see a ‘lightbulb come on’ as a student accomplishes a difficult task or progresses steadily toward a goal. I also appreciate getting to know each student individually.”
Mann’s advice for making a difference is to “Take time with others and get to know them personally. Look for opportunities to help someone each day.”
“It means a great deal to me to think that I might have made a small difference in the lives of those around me,” said Mann.