At the recent Faculty/Staff Campaign event, Christine Davie '04, a longtime employee in Information Technology Services, shared some of the many opportunities that have come her way thanks to her position at Ithaca College. Highlights include receiving a J.J. Staff Scholar Award, earning an Ithaca College degree, and watching three of her children also complete IC degrees.
Read her remarks, titled "This Is a Great Place to Work!"
This Is a Great Place to Work!
(Remarks delivered by Christine Davie '04, P'95, P'99, P'05, on October 4, 2007.)
Good morning. I'd like to speak to you about the J.J. Staff Scholar award and how it impacted my life.
First, a bit about myself.
I have been an employee in Information Technology Services here at Ithaca College for nearly 20 years. I love my job, and I love the environment on campus. I can swim or work out on my lunch hour, or walk the grounds and smell the flowers when I'm upset with my boss. Turtle Bridge is a favorite spot where I sit and let the cares of the day wash off my shoulders. Ten minutes with the turtle and life is good again.
This is a great place to work!
In 1988, when I first started my job, I was told that my children could attend Ithaca College tuition-free. Since my oldest was seven at the time, I didn't pay much attention. I'll never be at the College that long, I thought. It seemed like a hundred years away. Well, three of my four children are IC grads. Altogether my family has received 12 years of free tuition! My children attended IC from 1991 through 2005. I figured out that this represents nearly $200,000 in free tuition.
This is a great place to work!
In 1992 I began to take classes. One class per semester makes for a long road to a degree. It took 12 years to accomplish my goal, but in May of 2004 I walked out of Butterfield Stadium as an Ithaca College graduate! Woo hoo!
When I received the J.J. Staff Scholar award, I was thrilled. The award came at a time when I wondered if I would ever finish. Of course, the money was great, but just as important was the recognition that I was doing something worthwhile and that someone noticed.
Now it is my turn to give back to the College and to help others who need some encouragement and some cash to achieve the dream of a great college education. Currently, I am giving to the College through payroll deduction. It's not much, but I truly believe that a lot of little efforts can produce something wonderful!
This is a great place to work!
Thank you.
(Click here to add your support to the Faculty/Staff Endowed Scholarship.)
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20071016121819672