2001 Classified Employee of the Month |
Classified Council selects one staff member each month to highlight his or her outstanding contributions to WNC. Anyone from the college can nominate staff for this award. Profiles of the staff members selected are sent to the President's Office and a special celebration is held in the spring to recognize the outstanding achievements of these staff.
| February 2001 - Heidi Lynskey |
 Heidi is a Program Assistant I and has worked at WNCC for over five years. She works in Arts, Sciences and Developmental Education and handles the book orders and travel for instructors. She always cheerfully assists instructors even with last minute changes in book requests and travel plans. She even is helpful when people forget make the appropriate request AT ALL until it's almost too late. Heidi is one of those amazing people who works as a team member. Many of us talk about working as part of a team, but Heidi actually went that extra mile and asked, not once, but numerous times, if she could help with the student evaluation process which at one point was seriously behind schedule.
Heidi has received a degree in computers. Heidi is a single mother with one daughter, Kayla. She is engaged to be married soon. |
| December 2001 - Ina Funke |
 Ina Funke is the Administrative Assistant to the Applied Sciences, Mathematics and Information Systems Division. Ina has consistently gone above and beyond the requirements of her position to assure that the division has been served. She always comes to work early and is always cheerfully at her work when others arrive. Her work is consistently well done. She is on top of the needs and deadlines for the division. She has been with WNCC for at least 17 years. Ina was born in Germany and emigrated with her husband. She has three sons, two of whom have completed dental school. The third is studying computer information systems. |
| November 2001 - Kendall Buscay |
 Kendall was placed in a very challenging situation this year, taking over the demanding performing arts classified position without the benefit of a previous staff member to train her. She had many difficult procedures to learn "under the gun" and was able to complete her many responsibilities meeting show deadlines. Despite the stress of having much to learn in very little time, she was always very pleasant with the large numbers of people she needed to deal with. She also completed her duties with remarkable accuracy, even surviving the minute scrutiny of a Board of Regents' audit. |
| October 2001 - Lanny Vestey |
 Lanny has been an extremely and consistently hard working employee (even during the failing health of his wife who died more than a year ago). Whenever I needed to get something done at the Fallon Campus, I knew that I could count on Lanny Vesty and his employees (notably, Richard Parker). Even after I had already transferred to the Carson Campus, I asked Lanny if he could install new shelves in the Fallon Campus art room, and before I had a chance to return to Carson, he had already made room for the new shelves and started installing them. It is amazing to see employees who, regardless of which campus other people work on, are willing and able to fill such requests.
Lanny and the crew he leads were quite possibly the most important people I dealt with on a day-to-day basis. He is a good reason that the Fallon Campus runs so smoothly. If everyone was as helpful, dependable and trustworthy as Lanny is, our college couldn't be beat. Thank you for giving me the chance to nominate an employee from a different campus. |
| September 2001 - Diane Nungary |
 Diane has worked for the college on the Douglas campus for some time. She is always pleasant and strives to assist peers, administrative personnel, and most importantly, students in every way possible. She is a self-starter and doesn't wait around for someone to give her tasks. The quality of her work is excellent. She works over and above that which can be expected by volunteering on committees that cause her to work weekends and by working out in the community during special events to promote WNCC. She frequently attends workshops to enhance her ability to perform at top levels. She is currently participating in State of Nevada workshops to receive a certificate for supervision. She becomes involved in all areas of the Douglas campus so that she can help to ensure the smooth running of the campus.
Diane's attitude is wonderful; if something needs to be accomplished, regardless of the time frame, she is right there with a smile ready to get on task. She does whatever it takes!
She has worked at WNCC for about 5-6 years. She is working on her AA and has completed Real Estate Certification for licensing. She is married and has two grown children and has also adopted a wild horse called Prince Charles - Charlie for short! She is involved in the community and other charitable endeavors. She did the AVON walk for life last year and raised over $3,500 and is currently working on the American Cancer Society relay for life in the Carson Valley area. |
| August 2001 - Dorothy Arraiz |
 Dorothy Arraiz has been a loyal and dedicated employee of Western Nevada Community College for the past 12 years. She has served as an elected member of the Classified Council several times, the latest of which is a two year term (1999-2001) as the chair of the "Classified Employee of the Month" award committee. This position requires the giving of personal time beyond the duties of her job. Dorothy has done an outstanding job and the beautiful plaques and awards are made timely and with presentation. Dorothy did an excellent job of soliciting input for the Classified Employee of the Month nominations. In addition, she went above and beyond thanking the nominators by giving them post-it notes (purchased with her own money), which was an especially nice touch!
Dorothy is flexible and easy-going. She has had to make many adjustments in her job duties over the years. She is always pleasant to work with, greeting her fellow employees with a smile. She serves as a mentor and role model to new and seasoned WNCC employees and is always available to help with practical advice and guidance. She is one of those outstanding people who is easy to miss - she's doing her job - and then some. She is always cheery, always helpful - both willing and able - with institutional memory and a strong sense of community.
Dorothy was born to an old Nevada pioneer family in Carson City (nee Lompa, as in Lompa Lane). She has been married for 37 years and is the proud mother of two fine sons. She is one of those special people whose deeds often times go unnoticed or unrewarded. She has spent many hours on behalf of Special Needs children and in caring for the elderly. She not only gives of her time, but also of her finances. There are many anonymous donations that none, but a few, are aware of. She is that special someone who touches a little part of everyone she meets. |
| July 2001 - Donna Ashby |
 Donna has held several positions in the Business Office; and because of this experience, her peers always consult her for direction and help in performing their work assignments. This is no small task because of the complex assignments and computer systems that the office must utilize for each of its varied functions. She has become the primary backup for several positions in the office because of her knowledge and excellent retention ability.
Her current position in the Business Office, as the primary accounts payable technician, requires a person who has diplomacy and extreme patience. She is also responsible for travel payments, and difficult situations and/or employees are a constant staple in her day-to-day activities. Donna is able to handle each situation with grace and empathy, while adhering to the policies and procedures that she must follow. Even with all of the duties and additional assignments, Donna is never too busy to listen to someone with a concern and give them her full attention. She validates each as a person and gives the impression that no problem is too small or irrelevant.
Donna exercises good judgment in all of her actions. She is able to analyze situations and is able to determine when, how, or what she should disclose or not disclose when appropriate. Many sensitive issues come across her desk and are also introduced to the office through its association with the Vice-president of Finance.
Donna started working at WNCC December 6, 1993. She obtained her Associate of Arts degree in 1996, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. This was while she was working full-time and maintaining a home for her family. She has served on several committees during her employment at WNCC, the Retention Committee, the Staff Development Committee, and the Selection for the Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Committee.
Donna moved from California in 1991, but calls Nevada home and feels that there isn't a prettier place to live. Donna is married to the love of her life and has one child and three stepchildren who consider her their Mom. This is not an easy task and demonstrates what a warm, wonderful and giving person she is. |
| June 2001 - Kristie Gangestad |
 Kristie is a dedicated worker who constantly strives to improve her knowledge and expertise. She continues to take University extension classes in librarianship on her weekends off. She has learned new computer programs to enhance efficiency. If you give Kristie a job, you can count on it being done quickly and well. She is very organized and has a good relationship with other library employees. Her colleagues respect her work ethic immensely. She is also very pleasant to be around.
Kristie has been employed at WNCC for approximately 15 years, starting as a student assistant and progressing up to a Library Supervisor. She received an AA from WNCC and has continued taking courses each semester to improve her knowledge base. She plans to continue her education at UNR in the near future.
She has lived in Nevada for many years. She is married with three grown children. |
| May 2001 - Gayle Yesenskiy |
 Gayle Yesenskiy has worked for Allied Health for nine years plus. She is the assistant to Mickey Wade, Director. Gayle ensures that all new and continuing nursing student applications, files and health records are up to date, assists faculty with ordering supplies, copying, typing exams, etc. She ensures that all department programs, policies procedures and courses offered are within the National League of Nursing guidelines for accreditation purposes. She is responsible for installing all nursing courses each semester within the system. Gayle is very organized and task orientated, which is "must" for all of the Allied Health programs.
She assists with the preparations involved with the Pinning Ceremonies for each graduating nursing class. She insures that this ceremony is a memorable event for each and every graduate. She is very involved in coordinating and setting up pinning locations, ordering the invitations and pins, etc.
Gayle sets an example for all WNCC employees by her professional manner and dress. She always demonstrates a cheerful, helpful attitude to all faculty and staff.
Gayle started with WNCC in September 1991 as a clerical aide in the Academic Affairs Word Processing Center, being assigned to her current position in late 1992. She continues to take courses at WNCC to keep updated on the current computer skills.
Gayle was born and raised in Indiana. She met her husband and best friend, Bob, while vacationing with friends in 1987. They married and moved to San Diego. They relocated to Dayton in the summer of 1991. Gayle has grown sons, Sean and Kevin. She has two wonderful and rambunctious grandson's--Dylan (5yrs) and Colin (3yrs)--that both she and Bob love to spend time with and spoil! In her spare time, Gayle loves to work on her stained glass projects in their new studio. She also enjoys indulging in Bob's very creative culinary skills. If there is any spare time, Gayle likes to shop and travel. |
| April 2001 - Brenda Cormier |
 Brenda is an asset to WNCC in many ways. Among her many duties she works with the DSS program, which means she assists the many "special needs" students, note takers and Susan Hannah. She is always very pleasant and eager to assist anyone in any way she can. Her computer skills are "par excellent," she can always assist co-workers with most questions regarding many kinds of computer software.
Brenda began her career at WNCC as a lab aide for Joy Keating, and was hired permanently in 1998. Brenda has received her Associates Degree in Business Office Administration from WNCC, however she continues to take courses in Criminal Justice.
Brenda came to Carson City six years ago from Nova Scotia, Canada. She is a single parent of three children; Lindsay - 18 years old (a student at WNCC), Colin - 14 years old and Joseph - 10 years old. She has recently become the proud owner of a new home and most of all loves spending her spare time "bargain hunting" and looking for her car keys. She is fluent in French. |
| March 2001 - Monica Vezina |
 Monica has been a tutor for the Fallon Campus and had proven herself valuable for a couple of years before the Fallon Campus decided to hire her full-time as a Management Assistant. Monica has been a self-starter, eager to accept responsibility and new challenges, cheerful with a good sense of humor, able to work well under stress, and skilled in many areas, especially on the computer. She has very quickly proven herself to be extremely helpful to all of the faculty and administrators and even stops to ask if there is anything she can do for us (rather than waiting until others go to her).
Staff members have the fullest confidence in her because she is thorough and asks the right questions when needed. Monica has assisted in imputing the class schedule for the first time, and, after only one morning's training, she became very adept at performing this function. Her computer skills have been a tremendous asset, especially in assembling of reports into Excel spreadsheets and in the production of advertising flyers and display ads.
She has assisted in preparing fliers for the art shows, helped hang artwork, taken over the Circumference responsibilities (the arts and literary publication Fallon publishes).
She continues her pursuit of an associate's degree by taking WNCC classes and is raising four children. |
| January 2001 - Isabel Mezquita |
 Isabel joined the BE Department on September 11th. Isabel has created no less than 500 files since that day. She has significantly changed the quality of service the ABE program provides. Isabel is very organized and has helped to tie up details in the ABE office. She has also learned the intricacies of the ABE program. For example, Isabel has learned how to administer the appropriate assessment exam to students and assist them accordingly.
Isabel provides this program with one special quality. She is fully bilingual. Her presence has changed the environment in the office for a large segment of our student population. Isabel helps these students to be comfortable. She has enabled some students to attend the program's ESL classes by being the liaison between the Child Development Center and the student. Isabel helped these students to understand the paperwork process of enrolling their children in the center. She also made it possible for the WNCC spring schedule to contain correct Spanish print.
Isabel is a positive role model for the Hispanic students in our program, as well as all the female learners that seek services in our office. She patiently helps students in our computer lab and celebrates with students when they pass their GED.
Isabel serves on the Multicultural committee. She is always professional, has a warm smile and a gentle demeanor. We are very blessed to have her work in this office.
Isabel began her service at WNCC as a work-experience student in May of 1998, graduated to a clerical trainee in February of 1999. Isabel was promoted to Administrative Aid in Manufacturing and Technology Services in July of 1999. The ABE Program was delighted when Isabel accepted the position of Administrative Aid with us in September this past year.
Isabel is working towards obtaining an Associate Degree here at WNCC. Currently, she has 73 credits towards her goal.
Isabel is married with three children: Michael, Victoria and Kevin. Isabel is from Guatemala and came to the United States when she was 13 years old. Isabel moved to the Carson City area in 1993. |
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