‘Bright Ideas’ reception honors recent winners

9:45 a.m., May 4, 2004--The Blue & Gold Club was filled with some of the best and brightest Thursday afternoon as a two-hour reception got under way to honor recent Bright Ideas winners.

Held to recognize the innovation and enthusiasm of the 13 Bright Ideas winners whose suggestions for campus betterment were chosen from June 2003 through February 2004, the reception was hosted by President David P. Roselle; Maxine Colm, vice president for administration; and David E. Hollowell, executive vice president and University treasurer.

“What keeps Bright Ideas vital is the commitment of individuals to the institution,” Roselle said, after opening remarks from Colm. “We make ourselves a better institution through innovation and personal dedication, and that’s vital to any successful organization.

“When you consider the number of suggestions that have been implemented since Bright Ideas began, it’s really a broad range of improvements that show that people care about the University.”

Colm, who along with Roselle handed out certificates of recognition and thanked each winner individually, said, “We’re here to say congratulations and thanks.”

Winning suggestions ranged from using bricks as distance markers in campus footpaths to publishing a Vita Nova and Blue & Gold Club cookbook to color coding parking spaces for quick visual recognition. (To read more about the winning Bright Ideas, click here. Besides the public congratulations, each winner also received a Bright Ideas T-shirt and $100.

The following employees were honored at Thursday’s reception: Bernard Dworsky, project director at the Water Resources Agency; David A. Edwards, associate professor of mathematical sciences; Norma Gaines-Hanks, assistant professor of individual and family studies; Joseph Timothy Goecke, head exhibition designer; Mary Jo H. Mankin, assistant registrar; Mary McGlynn, recent retiree and former senior secretary for political science and international relations; Lynne W. Newlin, manager of IT-Network and Systems Services; Rita Pennypacker, service representative at the Physical Therapy Clinic; Susan Phipps, administrative assistant to the vice provost for research; Gwen Robison, secretary at the MBNA Career Services Center; Carol Rylee, director of the Budget Office; Eunice Wellons, administrative assistant at the Academic Services Center; and Chuck Wilson, sergeant for Public Safety.

The selection committee for the most recent Bright Ideas submissions included Colm; Richie Holland, manager of human resources; Benjamin Bruening, faculty representative and assistant professor of linguistics; Margo Toscano, Salaried Staff Advisory Council representative from economics; and Doris Miklitz, Professional Advisory Council representative from the library.

UD employees interested in submitting Bright Ideas should visit the Bright Ideas web site at [www.brightideas.udel.edu] or click on the Bright Ideas link on UDaily [www.udel.edu/udaily].

Students interested in enhancing campus life also are encouraged to submit Bright Ideas by visiting [www.brightideas.udel.edu/index-stu.html] and filling out a web form. This program was begun in the fall and, thus far, approximately 20 ideas have been submitted. All
ideas, which are judged by a Student Life and student committee, should be announced by the end of the semester.

Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photos by Kathy Atkinson

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