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WIU Home > Student Services > VPSS > Awards > Topflight Team Awards
Topflight Team Awards
The Student Services Topflight Team Award is designed to recognize a department, office, or team within the Student Services Division whose activities or accomplishments merit attention and emulation. Two awards will be bestowed each year, one for each semester. The selected group will also receive $150 towards their team's celebration. The department, office, or team selected by the Student Services Awards Committee will have its name permanently inscribed on the traveling Topflight Team trophy and display the trophy for one semester. Each staff member in the department, office, or team will be recognized at the Student Services Annual Recognition Reception.
Topflight Team Award Winners
Fall 2010 - Undergraduate Admissions
Undergraduate Admissions has made significant changes to the Discover Western program. They have handled the changes professionally and risen to the challenge. The services they provide to prospective students is vital to growth and retention at Western. The Admissions team does a great deal to create a positive, inviting atmosphere so students will give serious consideration to attending Western.
Spring 2010 - Beu Health Center
Improvise, Adapt and Overcome – This may be the unofficial mantra of the U.S. Marine Corps, the original Leathernecks - but it also describes the daily routine for the staff of the WIU Beu Health Center. This year in particular, the Health Center played a lead role in combating the H1N1 pandemic, and met that challenge with a remarkable can-do attitude. The year began with the Health Center taking the lead in preparing WIU for the likely onset of a pandemic. This was accomplished through a university wide tabletop exercise. Beu then volunteered to become an H1N1 provider through the Illinois Department of Public Health in order to ensure that students, faculty and staff had access to H1N1 vaccine. Over 2000 doses of vaccine were provided through various locations across campus. – in addition to 1500 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine. Several night clinics were conducted in residence halls to make it easier for students to receive a vaccination. Through targeted outreach efforts the vaccination rate among high-risk students (e.g. those with diabetes, asthma, heart disease) increased from 40% to 85%, exceeding the Healthy People 2010 goal. This was the 4th year of CDC flu surveillance, and we increased monitoring from weekly reporting to daily. Beu collaborated with UHDS, SDO, Sodexo, Division of Student Services and the Office of the Provost to develop policies and protocols to assist ill students. Every ill student was contacted by a nurse for a wellness check - often times this meant afterhours and weekend follow up. Numerous presentations were made to various student and faculty/staff groups to educate our WIU community about H1N1, the importance of handwashing and other preventative measures.
Fall 2009 - Disability Resource Center
For someone without a disability, it would be difficult to comprehend the degree to which life can be interrupted on a regular basis. The VPSS Office received a letter from a WIU alumni and former client of DSS nominating DSS for a Top Flight award. The former client was a visually impaired client. DSS had assisted her by converting books to audio. As a result, no private assistant was needed to read daily assignments for her 2 ½ years of school. She was very appreciative at being able to maintain independence and complete homework assignments on her own. The student graduated as WIU's first blind LEJA undergraduate, Student Laureate Award winner. She states that she would have been unable to read textbooks, access internet resources, complete examinations, or even find classes without DSS!
DSS is committed to leveling out the playing field so that barriers to academic and professional success are removed for students with disabilities. DSS also works to educate the student body and Macomb community as to the extent disabilities can have in hindering activities in daily life through events such as Disability Awareness Week. The staff of Disability Resource Center is dedicated, committed, and inventive.
Spring 2009 - WESTEC
WESTEC promotes excellence for Western Illinois University, has a positive impact on student well-being, recruitment, and retention, and has demonstrated a team effort with other areas in coordinating services to students, faculty, and staff. Few institutions are fortunate enough to have such an organization on campus, let alone an organization of WESTEC’s caliber. The National Association for Campus Activities has recognized the skill level and professionalism of WESTEC’s student crew members and repeatedly accepts applicants for the National Convention stage crew. During the month of April, WESTEC had more events than any other month this academic year. After they had already stated they could take on no additional events, they enthusiastically took on small projects. Congratulations to WESTEC – an amazing and unique organization!!
