Wolverine Lifetime Achievement Award

April 11, 2010
I had returned to UVU to work part-time on an accreditation project since our mission had been delayed. I finished up this past week as we enter the MTC tomorrow. I was surprised to find that I was going to be awarded this lifetime achievement award last Wed night. Loel and I attended the awards ceremony and several of my staff were there to support me. The Ragan Theater was filled with people. At the end of the ceremony (many awards were given out to student of the year, faculty of the year, club of the year, etc,) my boss made the following speech and then I had to come up and make an acceptance speech. Later I was told that I would also receive $500! I was really surprised by this and very honored. They said that in the last 15 years they have only given out 5 of these awards. It is an award that faculty, staff, and students nominate you for. It was a pretty amazing culmination to a wonderful career at UVU. (I'll attach pictures later when I get them.) Here is the speech:

"Paula has worked at UVU for over 22 years. She started as a Vocational Evaluator in the Assessment Center in 1988 working out in the trailers for 4 years with Robert Loveridge as her supervisor. Paula was promoted to the Assistant Director of the Assessment Center in 1992. She later was promoted to Director of the Career Counseling Center, which merged with Career Employment. In 1999, Career Counseling merged with Academic Advisement and that's when the CACC was formed. Paula has been the Senior Director of the CACC for the last 11 years.

Paula has been a model team leader and any person aspiring to be a team leader would do well to look to her example. Through Paula’s skilled leadership, Personalized, Seamless and Intentional advising has been jump-started in the CACC. Paula is a teacher and a mentor. She has literally talked to hundreds of students each semester not only to help them, but also to model PSI advising—she has been a practicing advisor and counselor and therefore has been able to select good people, which in my opinion is the number one most important function of a great leader. I have also admired Paula’s professional and skilled ability to collaborate with other departments and leaders across campus.

Paula’s work has been invaluable on the Advisement Leadership Forum, Advisor Forum Planning Council, Retentions Committee, Institutional Effectiveness group, and ACT committee. Paula has also served on the PACE committee, most recently as the Years of Service/Employee Recognition Committee Chair.

Paula loves being a grandma and spending time with her family, traveling, and eating chocolate and bacon! Paula retired from UVU this past month and she and her husband will be serving an 18 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days in Belgium and the Netherlands."