How do you publicly salute the giving heart? Is it possible to recognize someone’s extraordinary passion for service to others?
Dr. Kaye Patten Wallace thinks so.
Hymore
However, Patten Wallace had a particularly extraordinary employee in mind as the model and namesake for an award that was instituted last year.
Diane Hymore, director of senior administration operations and longtime executive secretary to President Lloyd Jacobs, was honored last April as the first recipient of the Diane Hymore Exemplar of Excellence Award.
Nominations are open for the 2014 award, which will be presented to an individual whose work defines the core values of the University in Hymore’s spirit of support, encouragement and service.
“Diane truly has what some people call a servant’s heart,” Patten Wallace said. “The many, many people Diane touched through her work would just call it being extraordinary. Her approach toward everyone was ‘How can I help?’ Not because it was her job, but because she genuinely loved helping people.”
She noted that Hymore, who worked at the University from 2001 until her retirement in 2013, never sought recognition: “She was very humble about her contributions, but she lived our core values of respect and kindness toward others, from students to visitors to faculty and other staff.
“Diane managed to blend professionalism with compassion; that’s a wonderful combination, and one we’re honoring with this award.”
Jacobs added, “Diane’s legacy is as an exemplar of excellence and her entire life speaks to the value of this award. To me, she has been a valued colleague and a wonderful friend.”
The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 21. The nomination form may be found online at http://utole.do/hymore or you may obtain one via email by contacting cynthia.nowak@utoledo.edu.
Send completed forms to the same email or fax a printout to 419.530.8567 or send it to Mail Stop 963.
