Three members of the Gustavus Adolphus College community were honored during the Thursday, Oct. 31 daily chapel service as recipients of the College’s annual outstanding employee awards. The awards are given out in conjunction with Founders Day, which recognizes the dedication of Old Main on Oct. 31, 1876.
Barb Lundgren, Assistant Director of Human Resources, received the 2013 Eric Norelius Award, given annually to an outstanding administrative employee who has demonstrated exceptional service and dedication to the College. Lundgren joined the staff of Gustavus in 1991 as Payroll Director and is approaching 22 years of service to the College.
Janine Genelin, Administrative Assistant in Political Science, Philosophy, Religion, and Classics, received the 2013 Augusta Carlson Schultz Award, which is presented annually to a support staff employee who exemplifies outstanding dedication and spirit of service. Genelin has worked at the College since 1984.
Professor of Art and Art History Lois Peterson received the 2013 Faculty Service Award, given annually to a faculty member whose service as improved the College. Peterson joined the Gustavus faculty in 1989 and has since made numerous contributions to Gustavus and beyond. In 1995, Peterson used funds from her Blandin Foundation Faculty Fellowship Grant to start the Southern Minnesota Clay Center, which still exists today as part of the St. Peter Arts Center. She was also one of the primary catalysts for the creation of the Hillstrom Museum of Art in the late 90s. Perhaps her most impressive service-related endeavor involves her work with the Starfish Project, the Gustavus-based service project that she founded in 2006 after returning from a faculty development trip to Namibia and South Africa. Through numerous fundraising efforts, the Starfish Project has been able to send books, educational supplies, and Christmas gifts to schools, orphanages, and hospitals in South Africa and Namibia.
Recipients of the Norelius Award, Schultz Award, and Faculty Service Award are nominated and chosen by Gustavus co-workers.
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