Hawkeye High-Five is a recognition program that allows faculty and staff across the university to give a "high-five" to a colleague for their contributions, teamwork, or extra effort.

Developed by University Human Resources, the program is a great way to show appreciation and highlight the positive impact staff are making across campus.

Since launching in late September, hundreds of nominations were received. Below is a selection of high-fives submitted through the easy-to-use recognition form.

Congratulations to everyone who received recognition.

Brooke Merkel, associate registrar, Registration Support & Systems, was recognized by Maureen O'Neill.

^{You consistently provide the most compassionate and thoughtful customer service to everyone who walks through our doors. But this high-five goes beyond that – you bring that same kindness, support, and positivity to all of us in the office, too!}

^{In a role that can sometimes feel thankless, your attitude reminds us why we love what we do. Your presence motivates me (and so many others) to be kinder, work harder, and keep building the amazing team we're lucky to be part of.}

^{Thank you for being such a bright spot in our office every single day.}

Kathy Parker, senior financial analyst, UI Health Care, was recognized by Nathan Barnes.

^{I just want to say how much I appreciate the way you consistently go above and beyond in your role. You demonstrate exceptional patience and attention to detail. Whether you're presenting complex data sets or walking the team through nuanced metrics, you always take the time to make sure everyone understands not just the numbers, but the story behind them.}

^{Your thoughtful explanations and your willingness to answer questions, no matter how big or small, make you an invaluable resource. Your dedication to clarity and collaboration fosters confidence and empowers my team to make informed decisions.}

Janie Simmons, department secretary and Heartland Center administrative assistant, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, was recognized by Alisha Sena.

^{Thank you for being such an incredible colleague and resource here at the college. Your positivity, kindness, and willingness to lend a helping hand never go unnoticed, and they make such a difference.}

^{You've consistently been someone I can count on, whether I need guidance, support, or just a friendly face to brighten the day. Your welcoming spirit and cool, calm, demeanor make working together not only easy but genuinely enjoyable. I truly appreciate the way you show up for others and create a space where collaboration feels effortless and uplifting.}

^{Thank you for being you – supportive, generous, and all around wonderful. I'm so grateful to work alongside you.}

Kelsey Slay, clinic services coordinator, Heart and Vascular Center, was recognized by Stacey Herdliska.

^{Since taking her position as clinic services coordinator, Kelsey works tirelessly to make sure all departments within the Heart and Vascular Center run smoothly and everyone works together. She is putting out fires and working to make sure the clinic runs seamlessly daily.}

^{Attending meetings, helping in clinic, assisting scheduling staff as needed – honestly, being in five places at once.}

^{I couldn't ask for a better supervisor. She is always there when you need her and has an answer for you. I appreciate her and everything she does to make my job easier.}

Colleen Mitchell, associate professor, Department of Mathematics, was recognized by Garrett Young

^{I just wanted to say how much I and your other advisees really appreciate the time and effort you put into us. You not only lead us well academically and intellectually, but I truly love the way you care about us as people. You actually pay attention to our lives and treat us as more than just graduate students.} 

^{We can't thank you enough for the encouragement, guidance, and support that you offer.}

Leanne Nevers, medical assistant, UI Health Care, was recognized by Aliese Gingerich.

^{I recently had the pleasure of observing as you completed the intake process with a patient in clinic. I was immediately struck by your warmth and care in everything you did. You explained every little step with clarity and patience in a way that gave the patient agency without overwhelming her.}

^{You didn't just go through the motions; you truly created a space for the patient to share her concerns. You astutely observed the patient's body language and offered things to make her more comfortable. Throughout the morning you proved yourself to be a top-notch professional. You are compassionate, empathetic, insightful, patient, clear, gentle, highly competent, and you clearly really care about each of your patients as a whole person.}

^{Thank you so much for your work.}

In addition to a Hawkeye High-Five, consider other ways to celebrate your colleagues:

• Employee recognition notecards: Send a handwritten thank you note with Iowa-branded cards.
• Supervisor guide to recognition: The guide provides practical tools for recognizing employees, including recognition types, tiers, policies, ideas, and resources, as well as using AI as a recognition partner.