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Whether you’re about to take time off over the holidays or simply looking forward to winter break, we hope you have a joyous, peaceful, and restful time. We put together this collection of special stories about our campus community to spread some cheer as we close out another semester. Happy Holidays, Hawkeyes!
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As the fall semester closes, President Barbara Wilson shares her gratitude for all that the university community gives — to our students, to each other as colleagues, to our state, and to our country and world. “As you exchange gifts and thanks during this special time of year, please generously share your gratitude for your fellow Hawkeyes.”
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Earlier this semester, we asked some students to write thank you notes to faculty and instructors who made a difference during their time at Iowa. We recorded faculty reading the letters for the first time. (Tip: You might want to grab a tissue before you play this video.)
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Using a commercial oven and mixer in his home kitchen, Josh Smith has been spreading sugary joy to UI staff for years. Smith, custodial training specialist and assistant manager in Facilities Management, bakes 12 dozen cookies once a week to share with custodial staff and new trainees.
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Michael Kanellis, UI professor of pediatric dentistry, has been gathering and perfecting recipes for years. After dental students asked him about publishing a cookbook, he created and sold Iowa Mike’s Family Recipes, which raised more than $8,500. The funds are used for the Pediatric Smiles Fund, which helps children afford quality dental care.
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After one of her personal training clients was diagnosed with dementia, Angela Charsha-Harney, UI Recreational Services’ associate director of fitness, dove into research on how best to help him. That research led to thinkJOY, a nonprofit Charsha-Harney describes as “wish granting for seniors” in Johnson County to give them the health benefits of happiness.
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Patrick Johanns, UI Tippie College of Business associate professor of instruction, starts preparing for the holiday season in July to make sure his beard is just right come December. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Johanns has dressed as Santa Claus to spread holiday cheer to children in the Iowa City area. “You get to see the kids’ eyes light up, and it’s great to see.”
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After giving teddy bears to hospitalized children in his home country of Ghana, Eddie Etsey, UI associate athletics director for technology and data analytics, decided he wanted to dedicate his time to helping others. He created the nonprofit Eddies Teddies to provide educational and health care resources to children in Ghana and has brought several groups of high school students and adults to Ghana to work on that mission.
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When patients at UI Health Care are giving birth, Bailey Hadden, registered nurse in the Labor and Delivery unit, makes sure they have a familiar face with them. Earlier this year, Hadden was recognized for staying with a patient three hours after her shift to help deliver her baby, even though another nurse could have taken over for her, exemplifying Hadden’s patient-first philosophy.
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As you get into the spirit of the holiday season, enjoy “Sleigh Ride,” performed by the UI’s Dolce Brass Quintet. The rendition is sure to make you feel like you are gliding through a winter wonderland.
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On the last day of fall classes 50 years ago, then-UI School of Music professor Bob Yeats and his tuba students spontaneously performed a holiday concert on the Pentacrest lawn. That performance has grown into a cherished annual UI holiday tradition, with Professor John Manning conducting the Holiday Tubas with a candy cane. Read more about how this tradition has grown and what it means to the campus community.
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Every day, University of Iowa employees work hard to make students’ time on campus a success and create a positive work environment for their coworkers. To recognize these efforts, we asked employees to share their gratitude for others who have made a difference in the workplace. Read what employees said about the hard work their colleagues do (and see if you can spot any familiar names).
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