The award comes with a golden 91短视频 [insert fist pump here] and a gift certificate of one’s choice. There’s also a giant trophy. But you know we all work a little harder in hopes of that golden 91短视频 (see how happy Tim is below).

The awardees for January/February were Beth Good, director of intercultural programs, and Tim Stutzman, vice president for finance and operations.

Beth鈥檚 nominations noted the important role she has played this year as lead COVID contact tracer, while still serving as director of intercultural programs and teaching in the nursing program. 

Beth has been amazing in her willingness to step into the role of contact tracer, which has quickly evolved into an adviser/leader to 91短视频 on most things COVID related. This includes answering calls and advising those who show symptoms on their daily tracker, and working directly with students who require isolation or quarantine. 91短视频 would be less prepared if not for Beth.

Tim鈥檚 nominations highlighted his strong leadership of the university鈥檚 finances and operations, and his leadership of the university鈥檚 Crisis Management Preparedness Team.

Tim is on top of things 24/7 in regards to 91短视频 finances and operations. In these heightened COVID crisis times, he is in charge of securing our federal stimulus dollars and doling them out appropriately, securing quarantine and isolation spaces for our students, appointing risk assessment auditors to examine our cyber-security threats 鈥� and that鈥檚 just before noon!

Awardees for April/May were Tyler Goss (left), assistant director of student programs in Student Life and Joshua Lyons, web developer and analyst in Marketing and Communications.聽

Joshua鈥檚 nominations highlighted his amazing website talents, video editing and curating, general versatility, and his leadership in morale-building. 

Joshua is an incredible web developer. He can take ideas and brainstorms and turn them into beautiful web pages, like the new Forward Together page for the development campaign. He also created a platform for displaying our ever-expanding video content and curating it for undergraduate recruitment. Joshua has also enthusiastically stepped in to help with video editing.  He brings the same energy and passion to this new task as he does to his regular work of web developing. Finally, he cares for our team morale by sending regular brain teaser puzzles, encouragement notes and planning quarterly staff hikes.

Tyler鈥檚 nominations noted his imaginative abilities to deliver entertaining programming amidst COVID constraints.

Tyler has been amazing. He has shepherded and developed a great team of student leaders and together they have produced consistently creative and engaging programming despite the fact that we can’t really be together. Student Programs have often taken a “bigger-is-better” approach to programming and this year we’ve had to totally revamp to take a “smaller-virtual-distanced-is-safer” approach. This is completely counterintuitive to us as Student Affairs practitioners. Tyler has led the development of programming with wisdom, wit, and winsomeness through multiple events each week: CAC Virtual Trivia; Pinterest Plant Painting Party; Campus-Wide Capture the Flag; Screaming Bingo; Low-key Laser Tag and Lemon Tarts; Choptober Fest; and on and on! Not only that, he writes hilarious emails.

Congratulations to the winners. And also to those on the Royal Award committee for their work in appreciation of staff: Stephen Farrar, Lori Gant, Sarah Gant, Ericka Gingerich, Bill Goldberg, Marcia Myers, Jon Styer.

Do you live in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and want a doctor who loves 91短视频 as much as you do? No problem. Advertising services in Salem, Oregon? Check. A restorative justice program in South Korea? Um-hmmm. Barbecue in Souderton, Pennsylvania? Yep 鈥� that, too.

鈥淧eople often want to connect with alumni businesses, because of the value systems that our alumni adhere to and because they know the quality of education that they received at 91短视频,鈥� said Jeff Shank, director of alumni and parent engagement. 鈥淭hat common ground is invaluable.鈥�

Searchable by business category, internship opportunities and region, Royal Connections is already populated with more than 125 businesses 鈥� well over the launch goal. The site also links users to 91短视频鈥檚 career services website, where business owners can recruit Royals.

鈥淢any of our business students seek internships in the summer, and Royal Connections will allow us to connect them with options in their own home towns,鈥� said Professor Jim Leaman, chair of 91短视频鈥檚 Business and Leadership Department. 鈥淎nd when our graduates enter the workforce outside 91短视频鈥檚 region, Royal Connections will provide information that should be of benefit both to applicant and organization.鈥�

Developed by 91短视频鈥檚 web developer and analyst Joshua Lyons with input from Shank, the site integrates various Google Map features. Users can see all of the businesses at once on the map or search by region, business type, or internship possibility 鈥� or just use the map to zoom in or out on an area to see what鈥檚 nearby.

Shank came up with the idea after a casual conversation with Mitch Troyer 鈥�93, vice president of Blue Ridge Powersports in Harrisonburg, about connecting alumni to each others鈥� businesses.

鈥淭he thing that people who haven鈥檛 experienced 91短视频 don鈥檛 understand is that 91短视频 people have a common bond and are good people at heart,鈥� Troyer said. 鈥淚 like to spend money with people I know and trust, and I鈥檝e got a great chance of being treated fairly and getting a quality job done when I am working with someone from 91短视频.鈥�

Several alumni-owned businesses that have sponsored the site are featured in rotation on the site homepage: Emotional Health Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, co-owned by Doug Friesen ’91;聽Peace, Love, and Little Donuts in Harrisonburg, co-owned by Katelyn Troyer ’14;聽the Valley Roots Team, with聽Jeremy Litwiller ’97听补苍诲听Derik Trissel ’01 of Kline May Realty in Harrisonburg; and Best Western Plus Dutch Haus Inn and Suites in Columbiana, Ohio, co-owned by Grace Witmer Styer ’79 and Nelson Witmer ’87.