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Thursday, April 06, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Eric Kinman, manager of public relations, Veridian Credit Union, (515) 289-5560 or
800-235-5560 ext. 5560
Robert Koob, UNI president, (319) 273-2566
James Lubker, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, (319) 273-2517
Rebecca Schultze, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-6728
Note to editors/news directors: Note to editors: high-resolution photos of the award winners are available on the Web at
http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/newsroom/photos/WilsonL.jpg
http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/newsroom/photos/Hays.jpg
http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/newsroom/photos/yehieli.jpg
http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/newsroom/photos/BerghammerG.jpg
http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/newsroom/photos/Czarnetzki.jpg
UNI faculty to be recognized for community engagement CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The first-ever recipients of the Veridian Credit Union Community Engagement Awards use community engagement to make their professional lives a little more personal.
In February, Veridian Credit Union partnered with the University of Northern Iowa to recognize the outstanding contributions of UNI faculty members to community engagement in the state. The awards honor one full-time tenure-track or tenured faculty member from each of UNI's five undergraduate colleges who combines his or her instructional and scholarly efforts with projects that benefit the greater community.
Each recipient receives an award and a check for $1,000 payable to the nonprofit organization with which he or she is engaged. If the faculty member is involved with a business or more than one organization, funding will be awarded to an approved organization of the faculty member's choice.
"The program was developed to celebrate and recognize faculty members whose engagement in the community has contributed to the overall quality of life in the Cedar Valley," said Jean Trainor, CEO and president of Veridian Credit Union. "Their story needs to be told, and my hope is their actions are inspiring to individuals throughout the university and the community."
The 2006 Veridian Credit Union Community Engagement Award recipients are:
Leslie Wilson, associate dean and associate professor in the College of Business Administration, (319) 273-6240, leslie.wilson@uni.edu.
Wilson helped build a relationship between the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) and UNI's College of Business that allowed the expansion of international experience and economic development opportunities in the state, while enriching the international aspect of UNI's business curriculum.
Wilson will donate the monetary award to People's Health Clinic.
Michele Yehieli, associate professor of health, physical education & leisure services in the College of Education, (319) 273-5806, Michele.yehieli@uni.edu.
Yehieli's work in public health, health disparities and human-rights promotion has made her a guardian of diverse populations in Iowa. She helped develop and leads UNI's Global Health Corps and the Iowa EXPORT Center of Excellence in Health Disparities. Her research has affected public health policy and programming in Black Hawk County and the state. Yehieli provides field-learning and training experiences for her students through outreach and research with public health agencies.
Yehieli is chair of the Black Hawk County Board of Health and will donate the monetary award to the Black Hawk County Health Department.
Gretta Berghammer, professor of theatre in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, (319) 273-2149, gretta.berghammer@uni.edu.
Berghammer successfully merged academic ingenuity with a community need through theatrical production. She has provided an opportunity for area elementary and junior-high students to participate in theater-based instruction at UNI. She also matches university students with area youth in creative drama activities.
Berghammer will donate the monetary award to The Sturgis Youth Theatre.
Alan Czarnetzki, professor of earth science in the College of Natural Sciences, (319) 273-2152, alan.szarnetzki@uni.edu.
Czarnetzki developed a project that benefits groups in agriculture, industry and education by using his expertise in weather and meteorology. UNI's Science center for Teaching, Outreach, and Research in Meteorology (STORM) initiates and coordinates education, research and service activities relating to weather information and conceptual models. This includes online weather-related information for superintendents and teachers.
Czarnetzki also is the president of the Cedar Falls Kiwanis Club and faculty advisor of the Circle K Kiwanis Club at UNI. He will donate the monetary award to the Cedar Falls Kiwanis Club.
Richard Allen Hays, professor and director of UNI's public policy program in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. (319) 273-2910, allen.hays@uni.edu.
Hays has linked research, teaching and community service since he began his career at UNI in 1979. His community involvement is extensive and includes work with the Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County and the Community Outreach Partnership Center, which links UNI resources and students with the needs of disadvantaged neighborhoods in Waterloo.
Hayes will donate the monetary award to Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County.
"Each of these award recipients' efforts will have a long-lasting impact on the community -- a ripple effect beyond the organizations with which they are directly involved," said UNI President Robert Koob. "We have a lot of great collaboration happening between UNI and the community, and we encourage local organizations to look to UNI for partnership opportunities."
Veridian Credit Union, founded in 1934 in Waterloo, is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members. The credit union offers a full range of consumer financial services and employs more than 425 Iowans throughout 19 branches, including 12 in the Cedar Valley. For more information, visit www.veridiancu.org or call (800) 235-3228.
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