{"id":1967,"date":"2022-12-01T11:39:31","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T18:39:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/?p=1967"},"modified":"2024-07-30T13:04:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T20:04:12","slug":"congratulations-to-our-graduate-assistant-giselle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/congratulations-to-our-graduate-assistant-giselle\/","title":{"rendered":"Congratulations to our Graduate Assistant, Giselle!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Written by Yendira Pineda, Transfer Jacks Senior Peer Mentor<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies organizes the Outstanding Graduate Awards, which happens every academic year. It\u2019s a time for faculty, staff, and administrators to nominate and acknowledge superb achievements of NAU\u2019s graduate coordinators, graduate research assistants, graduate teaching assistants, and graduate service assistants within various departments. These awards help us to express our enormous appreciation for those students who have gone above and beyond in their graduate assistant roles. <a href=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/graduate-college\/awards\/\">Awards for NAU Master\u2019s and Ph.D. Students | Office of Graduate and Professional Studies<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-uncropped-small wp-image-1976 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-1-300x195.png\" alt=\"Giselle receives her award at a podium with NAU Graduate College\" width=\"300\" height=\"195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-1-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-1-600x390.png 600w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-1.png 761w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>The Transfer Jacks Team would like to recognize our Transfer Jacks Graduate Assistant, Giselle Soto, on the 2021-2022 Outstanding Graduate Service Assistant Award! Giselle received her award in the Spring 2022 semester and was recognized for all the outstanding work she has done for the Transfer Jacks Program during the 2021-2022 Academic Year.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-uncropped-small wp-image-1978\" src=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-2-300x225.png\" alt=\"The Transfer Jacks lounge full of students meeting and doing crafts\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-2-464x348.png 464w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-2-232x174.png 232w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-2-600x450.png 600w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-2.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Giselle began her journey with the Transfer Jacks Program back in 2017, as a mentee participant who utilized our lounge space and by 2018, she transitioned into a Transfer Jacks Peer Mentor. Over time, she was promoted to a Senior Peer Mentor role, and has been the Graduate Assistant for the Transfer Jacks Program since Fall 2020. Having been a part of the Transfer Jacks Program for many years, Giselle has worked with a plethora of people, who would like to recognize her for all she has accomplished.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-uncropped-small wp-image-1979\" src=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-3-224x300.png\" alt=\"Giselle sitting in an armchair with a yellow tutu on, holding a skeleton decoration dressed in a polo\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-3-224x300.png 224w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-3-449x600.png 449w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-3.png 472w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px\" \/>Leslie Mitchell, Academic Success Coordinator \u2013 Senior (and former Transfer Jacks Coordinator), mentions that when she first met Giselle, she was a shy program participant who came to our lounge space but didn\u2019t come out of her shell for a while. Over time, Giselle blossomed to be an active mentee participant then to a mentor, after that becoming a Senior mentor before moving into the role of Graduate Assistant.\u00a0 Through it all she has never wavered in her commitment to transfer students and the mission of the program. When I transitioned out of my role as the Coordinator for the Transfer Jacks, I was confident that with all of her years of experience, Giselle would be able to step up as a leader and keep all of the ball in the air to keep the program going and serving students.\u00a0 She completely achieved all of that \u2013 even with additional staff turnover- she was the constant, north star guiding the ship for a while. In all our years I have known her, I would have to say I love her creativeness.\u00a0 We share a love of Halloween, and she brought in a skeleton to the office \u2013 and boy did we incorporate him into everything! We would even dress him up for Homecoming!\u00a0 She even \u201cout spirited\u201d me during Homecoming and was always game for an event that helped students\u2019 express creativity and have fun. Giselle is truly a Transfer and a student Champion!<\/p>\n<p>Faith Novak, Kathlyne Kerns, and Sabrina Proffitt, former Transfer Jacks Peer Mentors, all highlight that Giselle was really understanding of situations and did a great job with communicating. They also mention that Giselle always advocated for all the mentors.<\/p>\n<p>Kathlyne shares that Giselle works hard every day and always steps up to the plate, even if not asked directly. She cares deeply for everyone and goes out of her way to make sure each person is doing alright. \u201cMy favorite memory with Giselle would be when we would talk and laugh about everyday life and the funny things that would go on. She always had a funny or interesting story and would really seem interested in the ones I even told.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1980 size-landscape-image-sm\" src=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-4-232x174.png\" alt=\"Yellow cake cupcakes with white frosting, sprinkles and candles in the shape of &quot;20&quot;\" width=\"232\" height=\"174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-4-232x174.png 232w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-4-464x348.png 464w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/>\u201cGiselle is amazing! She\u2019s always been such a huge help and has always put her heart and soul into the program. She really made sure every one of the mentors felt connected, loved, and cared for,\u201d according to Sabrina. She also shares her favorite memory with Giselle: \u201cWe were having a TOC Lock In one year on my birthday and Giselle made me cupcakes! Still one of my favorite transfer office memories.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-uncropped-small wp-image-1981\" src=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-5-287x300.png\" alt=\"Giselle standing outside in a grassy area smiling at camera\" width=\"287\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-5-287x300.png 287w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-5.png 496w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px\" \/>Stacey Calvert, Transfer and Online Connections Director, mentions that Giselle has been with the Transfer Jacks team for years, starting as a mentor, and then becoming our graduate assistant. \u201cI can think of nothing better than this award to recognize her for all the time, hard work, and dedication she has done for the team and the students we serve! She is so very generous and caring of others, many times thinking of others&#8217; needs above her own. She is passionate in what she does, always willing to step in whenever needed, always thinking of what is in the best interest of our transfer students and mentors. If you know Giselle, you know she has your back, in good times or bad, and wants to do whatever she can to support you and help you grow into the person you were meant to be!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-uncropped-small wp-image-1973\" src=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/g6-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Katherine and Giselle dressed up in costume for a Super Smash event.\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/g6-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/g6.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/>Katherine Lawlor, Transfer Jacks Coordinator, shares her favorite memory of Giselle, which is watching her use counseling skills in one-on-one coaching with students since her career goal is to become a counselor either in a school or professional setting. \u201cWe are a better team because of her care for students and she balances the responsibilities given to her by leadership as well. She stepped up to be the interim supervisor during the turnover and most teams wouldn\u2019t refer to a GA as a co-supervisor, but she has my trust as a leader.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Anyone that has had the pleasure of working alongside Giselle knows that she is amazing at what she does. She dedicates her time to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and appreciated. The Transfer Jacks team is incredibly lucky to have Giselle and we\u2019re all very happy and excited for her recognition and accomplishments. Best wishes from the entire team and we can\u2019t wait to see what the future has in store for her! Go Giselle!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1983 size-uncropped-small\" src=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-6-240x300.png\" alt=\"Giselle standing in front of balloons with flowers and her Graduate Service Award\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-6-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-6-480x600.png 480w, https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/69\/Giselle-6.png 594w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Yendira Pineda, Transfer Jacks Senior Peer Mentor The NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies organizes the Outstanding Graduate Awards, which happens every academic year. It\u2019s a time for faculty, staff, and administrators to nominate and acknowledge superb achievements of NAU\u2019s graduate coordinators, graduate research assistants, graduate teaching assistants, and graduate service assistants [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":689,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1967"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/689"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1967"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2424,"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1967\/revisions\/2424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/transfer-online-connections\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}