Westfield State Celebrates Employee Milestones

Westfield State held its annual Employee Recognition Breakfast on Wednesday, January 29 to celebrate employees reaching five-year milestones in their tenure as Owls.  Almost ninety members of the community were honored for service between five and 35 years at the University. 

Three staff emeriti were also honored for their significant contributions to the community.

Trish Bonica, Associate Vice President of Human Resources, Title IX, and Equal Opportunity, opened the event by welcoming all honorees and those attending in support, noting, “You exemplify Westfield State’s aspirational values of community, collaboration, and diversity. Thank you for creating an environment of excellence and belonging in which students and employees succeed.”

President Linda Thompson emphasized that University employees do much to advance the campus as we collectively pursue our mission and strategic goals. She remarked, “As I reflect on the meaning of Westfield State, I see our University as an organization that fosters and celebrates a campus culture of belonging and pride. We also have an obligation to optimize value for all on our campus by cultivating an environment of respect, kindness, fairness, and compassion in everything we do. It is through your efforts that we set the tone and draft the blueprint to achieve these principles.”

In addition to a certificate of recognition, honorees were presented with Westfield State branded chairs as a token of the community’s gratitude with those celebrating their 25 years of service receiving wooden chairs featuring the University seal. 

To mark the special day, the festivities included raffle prizes, a Massachusetts trivia game, and a donut wall with treats for employees to take with them to keep the sweet feelings going.

Honorees names and photos can be found on the University website.