Michelle Cate
Office Associate – ITEC
UNK Employee of the Month
May 2007
The UNK Staff Senate is privileged to recognize Michelle Cate as the May 2007 UNK Employee of the Month. Michelle has been described by her colleagues as “one of the most student/friendly secretaries we have ever had. Her organizational skills are excellent and she is able to not only keep up with all the paperwork for the IT faculty but also runs three career fairs for the Department, assists with the three different student organizations and still has time to complete all the assignments needed by the chairman.”
Throughout her career at UNK, Michelle has demonstrated an EXCEPTIONAL commitment of continuing service to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Having received a perfect 4.0 on her evaluation for four years running, Michelle has demonstrated an inordinate dedication to the department as well as to the University. As a point of reference, the ITEC department is a unique and somewhat diverse grouping of people, programs, laboratories and facilities. This requires the ability to address multiple and varied requests from faculty and students, and yet maintain a sense of organization and composure. Michelle handles this with complete competence.
She always has time to answer student's questions or refer them to the appropriate person and her colleagues are sure that Michelle knows most of the 400-plus majors in the department by name. She is always cordial, even when circumstances would cause the average person to be less than accommodating. Her communications skills with students, faculty, and the general public are nothing but excellent.
Ms. Cate is the epitome of the "anti-procrastinator". She takes advantage of all opportunities to improve herself professionally by attending training sessions and seminars, e.g. web page management, software upgrades etc. Michelle often has gone above and beyond anyone's expectations in an effort to rapidly come up to speed on her duties as secretary in what is sometimes described by colleagues as an “unconventional department.” She has even substituted as custodian and security person when the need arose, even on her own time.
In addition to her commitment to UNK, Michelle also is caring mother to two young children and provides service to the Kearney community through her affiliation with the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
For all of her efforts on behalf of her department, the University, and the community, Staff Senate is honored to recognize Michelle Cate as the May 2007 Employee of the Month.
The Employee of the Month is sponsored by: UNK Athletics, UNK Theater, Campus Cuts, Chartwells and the Antelope Bookstore.