What began as a “bold idea” in the 2017 Bold Ideas Challenge has now come to fruition in Fresno State’s newest employee recognition program — High Five. Click here to read about how the program began.

High Fives are easy to give — simply go to the High Five website on the Organizational Excellence webpage, click “Give a High Five” and fill out the form to send kudos to anyone on campus. Your message will be delivered straight to their inbox, and recipients will be acknowledged weekly in Campus News.

Read below how your colleagues are going above and beyond to help the campus community.

(Note: Campus News edited comments only for misspellings and missing or incomplete words. They appear mostly as written for each employee.)

Above & Beyond

Hortencia Iribe, Graduate Admissions
Taking the initiative to learn new programs, such as EMP, to provide excellent service to her graduate students!

Kathleen Scott, Administration and Finance
Kathleen has always been very kind and supportive. I cannot count the number of times she's helped me in my professional growth. Recently, I emailed Kathleen about obtaining a file I've submitted for a university showcase. She went out of her to way find it and provide it for me. I truly appreciate her collegiality and energy. Thank you Kathleen for everything you do. I appreciate you.

Michelle Perez, Admissions and Recruitment
Michelle just finished a three-day recruitment assignment at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA. She put over 40 hours in three days, not to mention the many hours of set-up, staffing, and break down of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology recruitment booth. She is dedicated, hard-working, and creative. Three High Fives to Michelle, the Best Ag Recruiter in the State.

Denise Nunez, Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving
Denise is in charge of the campus operators and backup operators. She always goes above and beyond to make sure the backup operators have all the updated information needed to answer incoming calls. She is knowledgeable of all new office changes, new employees, employees who relocate or change position, she knows who the new faculty are, etc. She created a frequently called numbers list for everyone to use as a quick reference for incoming calls which makes the job easier. She is always available to answer any questions that come up and believe me some questions are difficult to answer! She always has a cheery disposition and is friendly and kind to everyone. Without her answering calls would be a difficult job.

Ar Xiong, Technology Services
Ar is a great team player and worked with the Police Department recently, proactively creating a backup plan for a critical phone application. After reviewing a challenge with Ar, she not only helped solve an immediate need, she worked with us to create an ongoing plan to help avoid challenges in the future.

Kristy Lomeli, Plant Operations
Kristy goes out of her way to make sure our area is cared for. Does a great job! Goes above and beyond to make sure it is done.

Adrian Ramirez, Career Development Center
Adrian is always providing guidance and support to make sure that I am not only successful in my student assistant position but he also provides me advice and support for my goals I wish to obtain.

Mike Nourian, Facilities Management
Mike has always come into our office offering great work with enthusiasm! We always appreciate when he comes by to lend a helping hand.

Mike Nourian, Facilities Management
Mike has constantly worked above and beyond for our office! We appreciate all the things he does for us and the enthusiastic attitude he has when he comes in! Thank you!

Misty Brazill, Research and Graduate Studies
Misty is one of the hardest working staff members on the Fresno State campus and an invaluable part of the Graduate Studies team! For years, Misty has worked tirelessly and meticulously to support graduate students from the time they are admitted to the university to the point of graduation. Just last week, Misty stopped by on her day off to follow-up with graduate students who had an initiated graduation application, but had not yet completed some component in the three-step process. In addition to going above and beyond in supporting graduate students Misty is always available to assist graduate coordinators seeking her expertise pertaining to graduate policy. Misty is always willing to go above and beyond to get the work done and she does it with a smile and no hesitation. Her genuine and kind spirit is very much appreciated!

Sarina Lopez, Athletic Compliance
Sarina works closely with Fresno State student athletes, helping them navigate the university process, including financial aid. She is a wonderful colleague to work with, and she is always available to answer my questions about compliance issues. Even when out of the office, she answers my emails promptly! One of the most important things Sarina does is work the drop for non-payment list thoroughly each semester, contacting all students at risk of being dropped and seeing how she can help. She is a great advocate for her students, and Fresno State is lucky to have her as a staff member.

Stephanie Moua, Accounting Services
Stephanie is one of the hardest working colleagues I know. She always seems to be in the office early and working late - I sometimes call her before or after hours, not expecting an answer, yet she picks up! Stephanie manages a lot of complex tasks, such as third party sponsorships and money wires, which our office (Financial Aid and Scholarships) coordinates; she is amazing at keeping track of outstanding responses she needs and she is a fantastic partner to our office.

Olivia Estrada, Library – Digital Services
Olivia not only does her job sufficiently, but she always has a positive attitude while doing so.

Lori Clanton, University Advancement
Lori's job is to help our Division with Human Resources and Financial items. Lori has become an invaluable resource to assist us in all these areas. She has helped guide us through many HR items and has brought much clarity to our budget and planning process. She has also worked above and beyond with us on our MOA with the University. Lori always has a smile, takes your call and works to help our office on some many projects. I am grateful for Lori Clanton!

Stephen Austin, Advancement

Ginny Barnes, Library
Student focused and creative! Exemplifies collaborations and accountable for everything she does.

Patricia Benavides, Student Involvement
Patricia has been with Student Involvement since the summer and we are so grateful to have her on the team. She always goes above and beyond when the team asks for support. We are currently down two team members, and she without hesitation jumped in to help support where there were holes. She is an amazing professional and willing to help out anyone, anytime, and Student Involvement is lucky to have her on the team!

Andrew Corea, Plant Operations/Custodial
This is for Andrew and his team - Even though custodian crew is usually under staffed, Andrew and his team always make every effort to take care of all service request I submit as quickly as possible! It doesn't matter what the service request is, whether it's a big or small project, Andrew and his team are on top of it and get the job done. You guys ROCK! Andrew takes the time to let me know what the time frame looks like for a task. He is very efficient and polite. Thank you for ALL your hard work!

Crystal Espinoza, Recreation Administration
Crystal is always there to assist the faculty and students as needed. She takes on projects and sees them through to completion.

Crystal is kind and helpful to all who enter the office. She is our first person students interact with to solve problems.

Crystal is a welcoming professional and is mindful of her actions towards others. She is thoughtful and contributes in positive ways.

Cristian Flores-Rayas, Career Development Center
Cristian is super patient, resourceful and has been phenomenal with guiding me through the process of updating my resume. He has given insightful thought to the process. He is very professional. Every person that comes in through the door is immediately greeted and their needs addressed and/or delegated to the correct area. He is patient and has shown kindness.

Boon Mo, Tech Services
Boon always goes above and beyond for the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, but when asked if he could help support the VR set up for the groundbreaking, he pulled out all the stops to make sure that it was seamless for our students to view the VR. He made sure everything was safe, secure, and ran smoothly. He also offered to carry over additional items that had nothing to do with his request. Boon always takes the time and goes above and beyond to support all of our needs!

Excellent Customer Service

Stephanie Moua, Accounting Services
Stephanie is truly committed to serving Fresno State students, helping our students navigate an often complex system of policies and processes spread throughout several offices. Stephanie takes the time to listen to students, and has formed relationships with other offices, such as Financial Aid, so that she can easily reach out and connect a student to services needed. Anytime I ask her for help with a student, she makes the time to help to the best of her ability.

April Schulthies, Undergraduate Studies
April is a ray of sunshine, she lights up the 4th floor in the library. April directs students, administrative staff and new lecturers to file paperwork and conference rooms. Her desk area is beautiful. Pleasant, approachable and joyful. You provide supreme customer service. Thank you for celebrating each season and helping others to smile.

Kathleen Scott, Administration and Finance
Kathleen, I want you to know that I am always inspired by you. At the CAIFE event last week you did an excellent job of putting the program in context and introducing the new evaluation method. You exude positive attitude and make me feel very honored to participate in it.

Ar Xiong, Technology Services
Ar is always knowledgeable, pleasant, and kind.

Kristy Lomeli, Plant Operations
Kristy takes care of us. She makes us smile and laugh which makes our day. She always say hello and asks if we need anything. And is always concerned when she isn't here that someone has filled in for her. Can't say enough about her.

Antoinette Castanon, Accounting Services
Antoinette acts as a wonderful liaison between Accounting Services and Financial Aid. Most students confuse the two different offices and functions and can easily contact the wrong office. Instead of sending the student around to find the answer to their questions, Antoinette makes a concerted effort to help the student as much as she is able, often calling our office to inquire about an account so that she can help explain it to the student. On the flip side, Antoinette is always available for my own questions, and she is prompt in her responses. She is always thinking about what is best for the student - she sees beyond student IDs and their account balances. I feel very lucky to work with such a colleague.

Laura Gribbin, Faculty Affairs
I recently emailed Laura with a question regarding a faculty member's spring contract. She immediately responded and helped me work through how to communicate the appropriate answer for the faculty member's question. Laura even took more time out of her incredibly busy day to answer other questions about the contract process, reports, and tips on how to be successful in my position. I appreciate how much time she spent with me knowing how incredibly busy she is every day.

Monica Jolly, Admissions and Recruitment
Monica has provided her expertise in residency not only by training staff but also providing customer service to students as they inquire about this cumbersome task. She is an example to our office of hard work and dedication and exemplifies that through her desire to train and assist others.

Arnel Ordonio, Henry Madden Library
Arnel provides excellent instruction and support for the library's Tech Lending program, offering solutions for students' projects. His calm and pleasant demeanor are very reassuring in times of stress!

Kris Westscott, Administration and Finance
I see Kris about once a month and he always makes sure that our direct pays are delivered, signed and returned promptly! It is truly appreciated, as this helps ensure our stipends are disbursed on time. Each time my staff and I visit his office, he stops what he's doing and greets us with a smile. I've experienced nothing but friendliness and a positive attitude from Kris.

Saved My Bacon!

William Hardaway, Learning Center
I had reserved a "Professional Development" opportunity for advising staff, yet was late in securing a presenter/facilitator. William agreed to put something together for us and did a FANTASTIC job in sharing helpful tools and tips to make routine tasks MUCH simpler and even better! He is a great teacher, team player and colleague!

Ar Xiong, Technology Services
Ar helped the Police Department overcome a phone system challenge!

Adrian Ramirez, Career Development Center
Adrian is always willing to jump at a task even if it is last minute on my part.

Mike Nourian, Facilities Management
Mike has come in time and time again to our office and has fixed our desk lights, shelves, and drawers.

Heather McDowell, Kremen School of Education and Human Development
I accidentally threw my eyeglasses into the trash can underneath my desk. So thirty minutes later when I was in the President's conference room across campus for an important meeting I could not see the material in front of me. So I texted Heather and she got a Kremen Administrator to open my office and found them in the trash! Then she rushed them all the way over to the library and met me at the elevator. Talk about going above and beyond the call of duty! Thank you Heather...YOU saved my bacon!

Rhonda Velasquez, Art and Design
Rhonda is an excellent and dedicated colleague in the department. She has been very helpful since I joined my department (Art and Design) with all my requests regarding administrative support, scheduling and promoting events, booking rooms, etc. She makes things much easier for all of us in the department, plus she is so cheerful and fun in her interactions. It is always great to have a conversation with her, and to learn from her experience at Fresno State. I recently learned that she has worked at Fresno State for 25 years. Something to celebrate!! And I want to take this opportunity to congratulate her publicly for her excellent work, commitment, and for putting a smile on our faces every day. Thanks Rhonda!!!

Models the Principles of Community

Olivia Estrada, Library – Digital Services
Olivia is an amazing model of the four principles of Community. She is respectful, kind, collaborative and accountable.

Lori Clanton, University Advancement
WE ARE COLLABORATIVE. Lori has modeled our Principles of Community through being very collaborative while working on the Alumni Association's Memorandum of Agreement and a new Roles and Responsibilities with the University. We have worked together to achieve common goals, support the greater good and embrace Fresno State's mission. She is an outstanding thought partner, has been very supportive of our goals and we have come out with a document that will serve the University and our Alumni Board of Directors' well now and for years to come.

Erica Lassen, University Registrar
Erica is a collaborative leader. She builds relationships to create a positive work and learning environment, building trust with her team.

Estella Gonzalez, University Registrar
Estella is brave leader. She holds herself and her colleagues accountable for behaviors and outcomes, and strives to clearly communicate expectations. She shares honest, meaningful feedback in a timely manner.