Give your colleagues a “High Five” for things such as excellent customer service, “saving my bacon” and going above and beyond.

High Fives are easy to give — simply click “Give a High Five” and fill out the form for a faculty or staff member only. Your message will be delivered straight to the recipient's inbox, and they will be acknowledged weekly in Campus News.

Continue below to read about 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.)

Works Above and Beyond

Toni Amezcua-Pedraza, College of Health and Human Services
A big high five to Toni, whose hard work, kindness and great sense of humor brighten every day! Toni is always ready to lend a hand and go the extra mile to help others, all while bringing laughter and positivity. She is someone who listens, encourages and makes everyone feel valued. Thank you, Toni, for all that you do and for the joy you bring to those around you. You’re truly appreciated.

Patricia Benavides, Student Involvement
Patricia and the Staff Assembly worked collaboratively with Student Involvement and Alumni Association to create an exciting week of events for homecoming, especially for staff and faculty. They helped lead and bring back the tradition of the Pawrade. They supported the new staff section of the kickoff event as well as the takeover at Crow and Wolf. Lastly, they hosted another year of the office decorating contest and an amazing Red Friday event.

Shawna Blair, Student Involvement
Congratulations to Shawna for an amazing Homecoming Week of activities. This year had some traditional favorites along with some new activities, like bringing the "Amazing Wellness Race." Shawna continues to be an example of our Principles of Community by collaborating with the Alumni Office, Office of Organizational Development, as well as the Staff Assembly Executive Committee to bring our students and staff some great content for Homecoming. No one could "Hide That Bulldog Pride." Great job, Shawna!

Janine Derichsweiler, Student Involvement
Janine helped to make sure I had all the equipment needed for all the homecoming week events. She came in early multiple times to make sure everything was delivered and ready for me. In addition, her student staff helped me with the setup, which made each event setup go quicker and smoother. Homecoming week was a great success due to Janine’s help.

Rocio Garcia, Public Health
A huge high five to Rocio, whose dedication, compassion and quiet strength make her an invaluable part of our university. Rocio works tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring that everything runs smoothly while always being there for others, whether it is students in need, staff seeking guidance or faculty looking for support. She is patient, reliable and kind. She never hesitates to step in and help, no matter how big or small the challenge. Thank you, Rocio, for your hard work, generosity and for being a shining example of what true dedication looks like. You make a difference every single day.

Rebecca Raya Fernandez, Student Health and Counseling
Rebecca consistently exceeds expectations in her role, demonstrating exceptional teamwork, professionalism and leadership. She is always willing to step up and volunteer for additional tasks to support the team, often taking on extra responsibilities even when her own workload is demanding. Recently, during a period of staff shortage, she took on increased duties with a positive attitude and strong commitment to ensuring the team’s success. Her kindness, professionalism and reliability make her a valued team member and an excellent role model. Rebecca's dedication and collaborative spirit truly embody the values of our organization, making her highly deserving of this recognition.

Nicole Traverso, Student, Alumni and Friends Engagement
High Five to Nicole and her team for bringing a new area for our Staff Alumni at our Homecoming Kickoff event, and all their hard work putting together their "Homecoming Takeover" event on Friday. All while also putting on their "Top Dog" event, what a week. Through it all, even through small hiccups, Nicole remained positive and kind. She is an excellent example of grace under pressure. Great work to you and your team, Nicole!

Nicole Traverso, Student, Alumni and Friends Engagement
Nicole worked tirelessly to help create an exciting and amazing week of homecoming events. We started two new traditions that were well-received due to her research and creativity. Nicole welcomed the collaboration from Student Involvement and Staff Assembly to make this year’s Homecoming Takeover at Crow and Wolf the best one yet. As always, Nicole created a wonderful evening for all those who attended the Top Dog awards.

Rebecca White, College of Health and Human Services
A huge high five to Rebecca. She works tirelessly to ensure things run smoothly and efficiently, but her impact goes far beyond. Rebecca is a trusted voice and advocate for her colleagues, always ready to share insight, offer thoughtful advice and speak up for what’s right. Her honesty, integrity, and support inspire those around her to do their best work and to approach every challenge with confidence. Thank you, Rebecca, for your hard work, wisdom and unwavering commitment. You’re a true example of leadership through both action and heart!

Provides Excellent Customer Service

Suzanne Lopez, Library Special Collections Research Center
Over the span of a few visits, Suzanne (and her staff) provided excellent, timely and appreciated assistance in helping locate archived photos. The requested information was ready for viewing at the appointment times. All questions were quickly and courteously answered.

Becky Martinez, Foundation Financial Services
Becky exemplifies exceptional professionalism and customer service. As I’ve been learning the Foundation processes, she has shown tremendous patience, kindness and expertise, always taking the time to guide and support me. Thank you, Becky, for your outstanding customer service and dedication!

Modeled Principles of Community

Veronica Moreno, Educational Opportunity Center
Thank you, Veronica, and the rest of the Educational Opportunity Center team. They were gracious enough to invite us to their training on software for student record keeping, which is used to track, manage and report student data. The Upward Bound team truly appreciates the collaboration and the opportunity to learn alongside their team.