Shout Outs

Denise is the real engine behind all the efforts that the Office of Admissions takes on. Every single student who is admitted to EIU is reviewed by Denise. Nothing and no one ever can pull a fast one, as her attention to detail is something that the entire office and university should strive to have. Someone who looks out for the success of all students, prospective or current, at EIU, Denise is a role model that every young professional would be lucky to have. 

Shanae works behind the scenes every single day, getting more done in one day that most of us in the Office of Admissions get done in a week. A constant reminder that those who work hard and be kind will have great things happen to them, Shanae is always ready to lend a hand and put in the extra effort no matter the day. While not the loudest, she brings an infectious joy to the office when together. 

Gail keeps every single member of the admissions counseling staff in line throughout the entire school year. From being the person to field the learnmore page to always having the skinny on every college fair in the Midwest, she keeps her goldfish in the office wrangled and on a tight schedule. You'll never find someone else who embraces the work hard play hard mentality more and Gail will keep the entire staff planned and prepped up and down the entire state. 

Kyle is the glue that holds the entire Office of Admissions together. Being our front line for visitors and staff alike, she greets everyone with a smile and a wit that is contagious. She always remembers that the purpose of our office is to serve our students, both prospective and current students. From keeping an impeccable budget to keeping all our visitors here on time, Kyle is a tremendous asset to the office and university. 

Rita has served EIU with such pride and dedication that few others can boast to ever have. Someone who will never be caught in anything but blue, she is a wealth of knowledge that spans across administrations and departments. Someone who never forgets that the purpose of working in higher education is to serve the students she comes across, Rita is an invaluable asset to the staff at EIU. 

If you look up "grind" in the dictionary, you'll find Ryan Howard pictured. The most tenured member of the admissions counselor team, Ryan is always there to offer his sage Senior Counselor advice but still always the first one to make the entire office laugh. Someone who keeps his purpose to serve his students at heart, Ryan's work ethic is bar to none. With changes in his role and office as a whole, he has embraced the challenge and will undoubtedly overcome any obstacle that will come his way. No matter how long the race that the admissions cycle s, Ryan will finish with a grin on his face and words of encouragement to all around him. 

Adam has taken like a duck to water in the admissions office. Just finishing his first year in his role, his dedication to his students and territory is something to behold and taken as an example for not only the Office of Admissions but the university as a whole. Striving for constant improvement, he is never complacent for the sake of his students, not himself. His strong will and even stronger voice will provide the needed guidance for countless students and families across his second year in his role! 

Will is the definition of what it means to be a panther. Through and through, he bleeds blue and has a passion for this school that few others do. The constant optimist and advocate for his students, he brings an energy and passion to serve his students and alma mater that is truly uncommon. No matter the distance, he will be the first one to volunteer for extra travel or to cover a shift. From Charleston to St. Louis, to the far reaches of Alaska, there is no student too far for Will. With one year under his belt, he will undoubtedly soar to even greater heights. 

Bri is a constant reminder that kindness can always be the answer. She goes above and beyond for each and every one of her students and taken on her role as a Transfer Counselor with a vigor rarely seen. Throughout a changing office, she has remained a constant and brings a smile to the face of every staff, student, and family who walks through the halls of Old Main. A friend to all she comes across, but most importantly to everyone in the Office of Admissions, I can't wait to see what next year will have in store for her! 

I would like to give a shout out to Chad Elliott. Chad really believes in providing the best technology experience possible for students. He does everything he can to help when I have a lab issue. He is especially helpful in providing ideas and solutions that best serve the students. Thanks Chad.

I'd like to give a shout out to Josh Koontz. He is incredibly helpful in sorting out hardware issues on lab computers. Just this morning I had a computer that died and Josh was able to provide me with a workaround so that the student learning experience would be unimpeded. He shares his wealth of knowledge freely and is an incredibly kind person. Thanks Josh. You help make the student experience great.

I'd like to give a shout out to Josh Ernst. He is incredibly helpful in sorting out software issues on lab computers so students can have the best learning experience possible. Josh is also incredibly kind and understanding of issues that faculty have. He really does his best to improve things here at EIU. Thanks Josh.

Chadd is always a delight to work with! He responds quickly and always finds a way to make things work. Thank you Chadd!

Thank you for all your help and support here at the Doudna. You always are willing to go above and beyond and we are very lucky to have you here with us at EIU!

Thank you for providing some equipment to help another department respond to an emergency. This was extra dedication.

Nick has been my hero with my admin support out of the office! Thank you for your prompt action on the long list of requests that have come your way in last few days. You made my life easier.

Stacy is always incredibly helpful and happy to answer any questions. She brings so much fun and positivity to the Music office! Thank you for all that you do, Stacy!!

Emily has been a huge asset to the Counseling Clinic. She has taken the lead with outreach programs/content, and trainings for the Counseling Clinic. The beginning of the year is always busy with the all the training requests and Emily managed it all with ease. Emily stepped up in roles when needed and would take leadership roles within the clinic. Emily also updated most of our trainings and presentations for the Counseling Clinic to use throughout the year. She is very appreciated.

Shout out to Corey for a successful week of intern training. Corey has put tremendous effort into the Counseling Clinic Internship Training Program and helping our interns feel welcome and equipped to work with our students. Corey has also stepped it up in the past few weeks, taking leadership roles in the Counseling Clinic and assisting with beginning of the school year prep. We appreciate you so much!

We have had a ton of orders to place this summer. Shari has been an absolute rockstar, does it with a smile on her face and makes sure we don't miss deadlines. She is always kind, willing to help no matter what and an all-around great teammate. She definitely deserves a Shout Out and recognition for all the hard work she does for the Housing + Dining Office. We sure do appreciate you Shari.

Ethan has been an invaluable resource to the EIU Admissions Office for his entire tenure. There has never been, in my opinion, a more involved, student-centered, well-loved Admissions Counselor. The amount of effort he puts into every single interaction with his students is beyond admirable and I've no doubt in my mind that Ethan is one of biggest contributors to EIU's success. Though he will be leaving for another admissions role at another institution, the effect he had on both students and staff will be felt for years to come. If there was ever an individual who personified EIU's grit, dedication to students, and willingness to go above and beyond, it's Ethan.

There could not be a better Assistant Dean of Students than Brittany Floyd. Brittany has excelled in leading the Dean of Students Team prepare for the upcoming school year. Brittany prepared and trained others on the new Title IX Regulations, trained the entire Residential Life Staff on how to handles student support and student conduct cases, and led several presentations to different departments across campus on resources to help our students succeed and how to help students in need. Brittany is a tremendous asset to our department and the EIU community and we appreciate her relentless effort to help students and staff.

Christy Kilgore is incredible! She creates amazing PowerPoint presentations. They are beautiful and professional, and they help me immensely in my admissions role. I am the envy of the admission counselors at other schools when I get to present with one of Christy's PowerPoints. Thank you, Christy!

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Chad Franks for his exceptional work on the Academy of Lifelong Learning's Community Program Guide for the Fall 2024 semester. The finished product looks fantastic, and it’s a true reflection of the hard work and dedication Chad put into this project.

Creating a guide of this magnitude is no small feat, and it’s Chad’s incredible graphic design skills and patience that made it all possible. The community and I are deeply grateful for your efforts, Chad. Your talent and commitment have made a significant impact, and we’re lucky to have you on our team!

I'd like to take a moment to publicly recognize and thank Joy Rainey for her outstanding contributions to the Academy of Lifelong Learning at EIU. 

First, Joy went above and beyond to ensure that a cell phone left behind by one of our valued donors was safely returned. Her dedication to maintaining positive relationships with our supporters is truly commendable and greatly appreciated. 

Additionally, Joy's hard work and willingness to stay late to help clean up after our Fall Weenie Roast did not go unnoticed. Her commitment and teamwork are a tremendous asset to our organization. 

Thank you, Joy, for all that you do. We are incredibly fortunate to have you on our team!

The Academy of Lifelong Learning picnic was a huge success, thanks to Danny's hard work! Turnout was great, community members came to see about EIU's Academy events, and many positive comments were made!

Shout out to Shane! One of our clients left an item in the EIU office and he went out of his way to hand-deliver it to her house in Mattoon! She was so thankful!

Amy very quickly came up with solution that fixed an ongoing problem we were having. Thank you!

Amy very quickly came up with a solution that fixed to an ongoing problem we were having. Thank you!

Huge shout out to Danny for being such an amazing leader, student advocate and a calming presence when things get hectic! The amount of great things you do for EIU, your Academic Advisors and our students is immeasurable. Our office is grateful for you!