Six employees earn Maple Leaf Awards for excellence
Goshen College President Rebecca Stoltzfus awarded the second annual Maple Leaf Awards for Employee Excellence to six employees during an end-of-the-year employee celebration on May 23.
The initiative recognizes and celebrates the outstanding contributions of employees, fostering a positive work culture and promoting excellence throughout the college community.
Each award — the Servant Leader Award, the Inclusive Community Builder Award and the Passionate Learner Award — was earned by one teaching faculty member and one staff, professional staff or administrative faculty member.
Passionate Learner Awards
The Passionate Learner Award recognizes employees who are always learning and applying fresh, innovative and creative approaches to their work.
Staff/Administrative Faculty: Eric Bradley
Head librarian for the Mennonite Historical Library
Since joining the Mennonite Historical Library (MHL) in October, Bradley has embraced an enormous learning task — his nominator said that he absorbs information like a sponge. He has learned about the many different processes that go into the MHL’s collection, and has continued to discover uncatalogued items while carrying out his own research. Unafraid to ask questions, and insatiably curious about everything, Bradley continues to demonstrate care and compassion toward visitors and students.
Teaching Faculty: Breanna Nickel
Assistant professor of Bible and religion
In any given semester, Nickel has around 14% of the student body enrolled in her courses. But, despite instructing one of the most difficult teaching loads on campus, she uses a high-touch approach in her pedagogy, requiring one-on-one conversations with all of her students. When she is in her office, she is more likely than not to be engaged in conversation with a student. She is a faculty sponsor for the Muslim Student Association, and leads weekly Hebrew and Latin reading groups. Nickel is well respected within her field and maintains connections of mutual respect with a range of specialists, publishers and scholars.
Servant Leader Awards
The Servant Leader Award recognizes employees who go above and beyond to care for, support and help others in their work.
Staff/Administrative Faculty: Janine Ostergren
Administrative assistant for the education and Deaf studies department
Ostergren is the quiet force behind the smooth operation of the education and Deaf studies department. As the first face students and visitors often see, she offers kindness and patience while also supporting the department with her knowledge of licensure processes and accreditation data. Her colleagues praised her for juggling complex tasks with grace and humor, and for always making others feel welcome and supported. Ostergren’s steady presence and wholehearted commitment to service reflect the best of Goshen College’s mission.
Teaching Faculty: Andrew Hartzler
Professor of accounting
When it comes to his students, Hartzler goes above and beyond every day. He has spent time during the summer advising students, offered detailed feedback to students beyond expectations, and driven hours to ensure a student recovering from illness had a warm, comfortable space to heal. His generosity flows from a deep sense of love and faith, and he gives without fanfare, always seeking to build a stronger, more compassionate community around him. Hartzler is a true servant — one who does not seek validation, but who gives because making the community a better place impacts everyone in a positive way.
Inclusive Community Builder Awards
The Inclusive Community Builder Award recognizes employees who go above and beyond to foster a culture of belonging for all members of the Goshen College community, encouraging others to be their authentic selves.
Staff/Administrative Faculty: Tyra Carver
Head coach of women’s basketball
Despite being newer to campus, Carver has already become a powerful advocate for inclusion and connection — on the court, in the classroom and across campus. She has mentored student-athletes and sponsored the Black Student Union, while simultaneously building faculty relationships and athletic engagement. Her engagement efforts have involved creative programs like “Pressure Makes Diamonds” and themed nights, and she is often seen outside of the Rec-Fit Center around campus. Carver leads with intention and heart, and her presence has strengthened the culture of belonging at Goshen, inspiring others to do the same.
Teaching Faculty: Jewel Lehman
Professor and department chair of kinesiology
Lehman maintains a service mindset when completing all her professional tasks, whether directly supporting students, envisioning program revisions or completing a tedious report. Last year, she took over coaching men’s volleyball while still chairing her department and teaching a heavy load. She also hosted an event for gay alumni during this year’s alumni weekend, and has served as the faculty member for the Advocates student group for three years. Lehman brings a global perspective to the kinesiology curriculum by helping students think about the intersections of culture, race, class, gender and sport.
This year’s awardees were selected from nominations by their peers. The teaching faculty nominations were reviewed by a committee led by Ann Vendrely, vice president for academic affairs, which included Susan Setiawan, associate professor of nursing, and prior winners and education professors Brooke Lemmon and Kathy Meyer Reimer. Marlene Penner, director of human resources, led the committee that recommended staff, professional staff and administrative faculty members. That committee included Brian Mast, director of facilities; Tina Neff, assistant director of human resources; and Daniel James, news and media manager.