When we embarked on the journey of creating the BE BOLD campaign, one of our first steps was to pin down the definition of “bold.” In a document named “Bold Statements,” we wrote down words and expressions that would serve as our guide throughout the campaign. These phrases encompassed professional attributes such as “exceptional,” “confident,” and “innovative,” as well as personal qualities like “compassionate,” “friendly,” “reliable,” “trustworthy,” and “supportive.” While these are all fantastic descriptors, we could replace them all with one single word: “Katrina.”
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you need help with, Katrina is always there to jump in. If she doesn’t know the answer, she takes it upon herself to find one. Her door is always open to you (figuratively speaking, because her office door can actually be comically hard to open) even if that means she has to put in extra hours to complete her tasks.
She is a multi-tasker extraordinaire, as evidenced by her recent performance in managing both her own responsibilities and those of the director during our department’s transition. She manages everything that comes her way with a smile, no matter how much is thrown at her. Her positive vibes can be felt not only throughout the ESC, but also accompany her to the schools she visits and every person she crosses paths with.
Katrina possesses a genuine passion for her work, using photography to craft narratives that delve beneath the surface. One of our campaign’s statements is “We open unexpected doors…that empower students to discover where passion meets profession.” Katrina exemplifies this principle by example every single day. Want to see it for yourself? Just ask her to share some of the pictures she’s snapped recently, and you’ll see her eyes light up with excitement.
In Katrina Hemann, we find not only an outstanding leader, coworker, and friend but a living embodiment of the BE BOLD campaign values. The overwhelming support for her nomination speaks volumes about her true character.
In conclusion, I propose renaming the campaign from
“BE BOLD” to “BE KATRINA!”
