Two Receive UW-Eau Claire Classified Staff Scholarships
Two classified staff members at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire recently received scholarships to pursue college degrees from the Classified Staff Grant Fund.
Receiving awards were Stephen Duerre, craft supervisor for facilities planning and Kimberly Vlcek, office manager in the Academic Skills Center and clerical staff member in Counseling Services.
The fund was established by Linda Haag and Susie Warden who completed bachelor's degrees at UW-Eau Claire while working as full-time members of the university's classified staff. They created the Classified Staff Grant Fund through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation after completing their degrees to make certain other classified staff members had a similar opportunity.
As office manager in the Academic Skills Center, Vlcek supervises the clerical assistant staff and oversees the payroll for more than 90 student assistants. As a member of the clerical staff in Counseling Services, she schedules appointments, maintains client files and transcribes case notes. She is working toward a degree in counseling at Chippewa Valley Technical College.
"Pursuing this degree program will help me develop personally and professionally," Vlcek said. "I believe it will enhance my advising, counseling and supervisory skills that will be help in my capacity as office manager and supervisor of student employee in the Academic Skills Center and will help me be more effective in working with clients as a scheduling assistant in Counseling Services."
Duerre said he will use the funds to help him take a course to complete the online facilties management certificate program at Ferris State University.
"I felt fortunate to receive the grant," Duerre said. "It certainly helps defray the costs. I also feel grateful toward the benefactors who created this fund and appreciate their willingness and commitment to the betterment of university personnel."
Duerre said he hopes other will support the fund through Campus Campaign.
"I know this fund benefits people," Deurre said. "Personally it will increase my job-related knowledge and will further my career within facilities management.'
Faculty and staff who would like to help other classified staff members to pursue their degrees can specify that their contribution to Campus Campaign go to support the Classified Staff Grant Fund.
For more information, contact Doudna at doudnadn@uwec.edu or 715-836-3819.
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