| Nov
8, 2006
MGHS recognizes Outstanding Citizens
3 employees honored at annual MGHS Employee Awards Banquet
MARQUETTE
— Each
year, Marquette General Health System honors three employees nominated
by their peers for their dedication to volunteer service in their
communities.
The three recipients of the Marquette General Health System Outstanding
Citizen Awards for 2006 were announced at the annual Employee
Awards Banquet held on November 3 at the Holiday Inn in Marquette.
Employees with 10, 15 and 20 or more years of service were also
acknowledged at the dinner.
Since 1998, MGHS has honored and recognized three employees each
year who exceed the expectations of others by helping people through
their community involvement and commitment. One employee is selected
from each of three categories: Marquette General Hospital, Marquette
General Home Health & Hospice and Marquette General’s
clinic network. This year’s honorees are Jennifer Wixtrom
(hospital), Carolyn Beauvais (home health & hospice), and
Karen Edberg (clinics).
In 2004, Jennifer Wixtrom, who works in the Cardiac Outpatient
Unit at Marquette General, felt that there should be a park in
Sands Township, and that the township’s unfinished gym needed
to be completed and put to use. Her leadership led to the formation
of a Citizens’ Advisory Committee to the Sands Township
Board.
Wixtrom’s grant proposal to the DNR for the establishment
of a township park was one of only two in the entire Upper Peninsula
selected for funding in 2005. The park has become the setting
for family-friendly events such as Fishing Day with Trout Unlimited,
and an Adopt-a-River cleanup with the Lake Superior Watershed
Partnership.
When she learned that Sands Township had not completed its gym
because there were no funds to operate it, she was instrumental
in promoting the passage of an operating millage in 2006. As a
result, the gym will have operating funds for the next ten years.
Wixtrom is also active with groups devoted to maintaining recreational
trail systems in Marquette County.
Carolyn Beauvais, a nurse with Marquette General Home Health and
Hospice in Escanaba, was recognized for more than 20 years of
community service. She has volunteered in her children’s
schools as a room mother, library assistant, and computer assistant,
and has served as a Girl Scout leader.
She is active in Players de Noc, where she also manages membership,
and serves on the mission and ministry board of her church, where
she often presents the children’s sermon.
Karen Edberg of Sagola was honored for her work with the Gracious
Rose Ministry, which provides a food bank and a monthly community
meal in the Sagola/Channing area. Edberg, who works in the MGHS
clinic billing office, was instrumental in the initial planning
of the monthly community meals, which she also volunteers regularly
to prepare and serve.
In addition, she volunteers to keep the food bank operational
by seeking donations, bagging food, and participating in community
events to create awareness of the service. The Gracious Rose Ministry
is a cooperative project of St. Rose Catholic Church in Channing,
where Edberg serves on the parish council, and Grace Lutheran
Church in Sagola.
“Each of these honorees has a passionate interest in the
people in their communities,” said Marquette General Health
System CEO Bill Nemacheck. “Their efforts have provided
healthy places for families, support for the mind and spirit,
and food for those in need."
"When people like these care deeply about something that
needs to be done, they inspire others, and remarkable things happen,”
Nemacheck said. “It’s a privilege to have passionate
people like these on our team.”
|
