Because of the dedication and commitment of its employees, Saskatchewan Polytechnic
has achieved a solid reputation for providing students with high-quality employment-focused
education. Our applied research activities, our connections to industry, and our focus
on work-integrated learning have earned us respect and recognition on both a national
and an international level.
“Every year, Sask Polytech celebrates the outstanding achievements and leadership
from a number of employees who have demonstrated the ability to go above and beyond
in their work,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, president and CEO. “The contributions made by
these individuals help to ensure our graduates find success in their educational and
career goals.”
This year, 11 individuals from across Sask Polytech were recognized for their hard
work and dedication. These individuals are:
Jamie Gondek & Rusty Watt
Outstanding Service Award
Registration Service’s Literacy and Adult Education (LAE) Program
Prince Albert
Jamie was tasked with managing the registration work for the LAE, and responds to
the organized chaos of LAE with efficiency and composure. In her role, accuracy and
speed are essential, and Jamie’s process is getting faster and smoother every year.
This year, all students were registered and able to obtain the all-important student
number and password within a matter of days.
Rusty is an efficient and dependable manager within the LAE program. His wry humour
and low-key style contribute to the calmness and professionalism that surrounds him.
His knowledge is deep, and his responsibilities are innumerable, but he never appears
condescending or territorial. He always approaches situations with the question, “What’s
in the best interest of the students?” As one instructor noted, Rusty’s, like Jamie’s,
response to an issue is always prompt, respectful and immediate.
Terri Genaille
Outstanding Service Award
Administrative Assistant, Associate Dean, Nursing
Regina
Terri is a highly respected member of the Sask Polytech team who is known to truly
live the values of the School of Nursing, while providing tireless service to help
achieve our mission and vision. She embraces innovation and technology as she continually
researches and assesses new, innovative tools to implement online surveys that provide
meaningful interaction from faculty and staff and to seek important feedback. Over
the past year, Terri played an important role in ensuring the success of the School
of Nursing’s 50th anniversary celebrations. She is a proud, self-proclaimed “hockey
mom,” often attending games and planning tournaments for one of her kids’ teams.
Rick Gelsinger
President’s Award of Excellence
Instructor, Office Administration Program, School of Business
Regina
Rick is known as an instructor who genuinely cares about his students. He cultivates
a culture where students strive for success in the classroom and in the workforce
after they graduate. Colleagues have regularly witnessed Rick going the extra mile
to create exercises, videos and further instruction to help meet the needs of his
students. But it is not just colleagues who have witnessed Rick going the extra mile
to help students. Rick says that he works very hard, but quickly adds that every member
of the team works just as hard. He says, “This award is more like an acknowledgement
of the values our program shares as a collective, rather than anything that I have
done individually. I am definitely honored to have been chosen by our team for this
award, but also humbled by it.”
Ray Steele
Outstanding Service Award
Department Head, Audio/Visual and Media Production
Moose Jaw
Ray has been part of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic community for 27 years and has been
the main push behind our move from analog to digital technology, updating over 600
classrooms, as well as offices and meeting places. His work has meant that not only
is Sask Polytech capable of handling today's classroom technology, it also puts us
in a great position to adapt to the future. On the media production side, under Ray’s
direction his team provides excellent service to internal and external clients alike.
His team has shot, edited and produced teaching videos for classes that are housed
on our video streaming platform. Ray’s colleagues say Ray has a “yes we can” attitude
who truly engages his staff to deliver world-class support and products to his clients.
Deb Clague
Outstanding Service Award
Senior Graphic Designer
Saskatoon
Deb’s dedication and hard work has advanced the reputation of Sask Polytech with many
innovative and award-winning designs. Her exceptional work includes the student recruitment
viewbook, the annual report, mySaskPolytech, and many other design projects, big and
small. While graphic design is Deb’s primary area of responsibility, she is also a
leader within the entire Communications and Marketing department. She is a multi-tasking
wizard, working on 388 projects and project managing over 440 design projects in the
2016-17 academic year. When she isn’t at her desk, she’s learning to be creative in
the kitchen, recently feeling most proud of her homemade Cajun samosas. Did you know
that her “eskipoo”, Monty, is also a Sask Polytech star? You can find him flashing
is doggie smile in some of our promotional materials.
Sheena Robinson
Outstanding Service Award
Office Administrator, Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program
Saskatoon
Sheena is one of those exceptional engaged employees who is often the first to volunteer
and one of the last to leave, sticking around to help clean up. Her positive attitude
and dedication are apparent each and every day. She constantly strives to improve
the operation of the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program
and frequently steps forward with new ideas or new projects to enhance the student
experience. Sheena was also a driving force behind the School of Nursing’s 50th anniversary
events. It was an enormous, high-profile event that she volunteered and devoted many
hours to. She was a key contributor to the success of our School of Nursing’s golden
celebration.
Susan Theissen and Dr. Jonathon Naylor
Innovation Award
Faculty, Veterinary Technology program, School of Health Sciences
Saskatoon
Both Susan and Jonathon played a key role in developing an equine eye and equine radiology
limb prototype that resulted in an innovative learning resource—a simulated horse
named Dobbin that is life-like in nearly every way. Dobbin is the only simulator of
its kind in North America. Some of Dobbin’s features include: legs that are separated
in a normal stance and a full-length tail that allows students to practice bandaging
techniques; a front limb with simulated bones that allows students to X-ray and examine
images for positioning; a jugular vein that allows students to practice taking blood
and administering medications; and, movable eyelids and an eyeball that can get wet,
which allows students to practice performing eye tests and administering medications.
Dalton Mervold
Leadership Award
Program Head of the Parts Management Technician, Warehouse Worker, Leadership Skills
and Blue Seal programs
Project Manager for Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training
(FIATT)
Saskatoon
Dalton was instrumental in shepherding his faculty and collaborating with Learning
Technologies to deliver the entire Parts Management Technician program online. A key
driver behind this initiative was the idea that having the program online would make
it more accessible to current students while creating learning opportunities for potential
students who, for various reasons, could not attend training in a classroom. Dalton
says the recognition is humbling, but adds that credit is due to the entire team,
who demonstrates innovation and leadership every day. When he’s not travelling the
world to participate in conferences on learning technologies, or writing research
papers on the same subject, Dalton can be found working on his acreage, doing wood
carving, reading and spending time with his family.
Jason Mazzei
Leadership Award
Manager, International Education
Saskatoon
Jason has been heavily involved with the International Education department from its
beginning. The results of his leadership are clear and obvious. Not only has the number
of international students on our campuses grown rapidly, the quality and availability
of services, specifically available to international students, have also remained
very high. Much of the International Education team’s success has been the result
of Jason’s open style, which allows him to build relationships throughout the organization
as well as with counterparts in other schools to ensure that International Education
remains at the cutting edge of service delivery.
Published December 2017.