FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 17, 2004

CONTACT:
Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

DRAKE PRESENTS LEVITT AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE,
EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE

Three members of the Drake University community were honored with Madelyn M. Levitt Awards during the recent Fall Faculty and Staff Convocation at Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main.

Donald Adams, special counsel for institutional advancement, received the Madelyn M. Levitt Award for Distinguished Community Service while Joan Anderson and James "Jay" Goodell received Madelyn M. Levitt Awards for Employee Excellence. All of the awards were established by Madelyn M. Levitt, a longtime member of the Drake Board of Trustees and special assistant to the president for development.

Adams has been a driving force in developing strong relationships among the University, the Drake Neighborhood and the city of Des Moines.

"There is seldom a community meeting I attend at which Don Adams is not there," says Connie Cook, principal of Hoover High School and Meredith Middle School as well as vice president of the Carpenter Neighbors Association. "Don is an eloquent proponent about how important it is to have Drake University support the people who live around the campus. He leads in the planning for the neighborhood clean-ups, has the Legal Clinic do research for us, asks the business department to become involved in a neighborhood trying to rebuild the commercial base, promotes the farmers’ market [near] Old Main and the list just goes on and on."

Des Moines Police Chief Bill McCarthy says Adams makes sure that research, information and cultural events are made available to residents of the city. "He has become the face of Drake University and is recognized as one of the leaders of this community," McCarthy adds.

Adams has contributed to the success of the Neighborhood Based Service Delivery program, served on Drake Neighborhood Association’s board of directors, chaired the Drake Neighborhood Improvement Task Force and accepted the Neighborhood Leadership Award from the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute in June.

Anderson, a program assistant in the psychology department, joined Drake in 1986. Over the years, she has provided extensive assistance in budget matters, helped proof documents and performed numerous duties critical to running the psychology department efficiently.

"Moreover, she is excellent at anticipating problems before they arise, and either solving them herself or alerting the appropriate person of the possibility," according to Steve Faux, chair of the department of psychology, and Brian Sanders, former chair of the department.

In a joint letter, they praise Anderson for her kind and caring approach to interacting with faculty, students and the public and say her level of dedication is exemplary and sometimes beyond the call of duty.

"For example, even though she has a 10-month contract, during the summer months that she is off, she will come in on her own time to update budgets, to make sure plants are watered and to do various administrative tasks that need periodic attention," they say. "She does this all on her own accord. She simply enjoys working and it is clear that this job gives her a sense of purpose."

Goodell joined Drake in 1991 as a special skilled maintenance person responsible for the design and installation of the numerous flowerbeds decorating the 150-acre campus.

"Drake’s buildings are gorgeous, but if there were no landscaping, the campus would be dull," said Grounds Manager Jeff Bosworth. "Long before you see the beautiful colors in the spring and summer, Jay has been designing these beds first in his head, then on paper and, finally, in the ground. Jay has a unique skill that is priceless to Drake — landscape design."

Goodell’s most recent accomplishment came in April during the Drake Relays when he brainstormed, planned, planted and provided maintenance for the landscaping around the sundial in Wifvat Plaza – a project that took a year to develop.

Goodell also is developing a plan that will help Drake create its own tree farm and greenhouse, where the University can grow its own trees and annual flowers. In addition, he has served on the Keep Des Moines Beautiful Club and attends seminars to learn about knew diseases, cultivars and horticulture methods.

"The exterior environment of campus leads to a carefree setting for the Drake community," Bosworth said. "Jay’s vision — being able to design landscapes and provide solutions — will affect the appearance of Drake University for decades to come."

In addition to the awards, the recipients received a cash gift. When Levitt told Goodell after the awards presentation that she wanted him to have fun with the money, he responded that he already had committed it to the purchase of a Catsura tree that has been planted near the southwest corner of Carnegie Hall and dedicated to the Drake University Facilities Services employees.

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