As you may know, due to inclement weather, Webster University closed the campus and cancelled classes from 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31st through Wednesday night, February 2. Most other colleges and universities in the St. Louis area cancelled classes during this same time period.

While many of us were stuck at home, there are some staff who must come to the University on snow days (i.e., public safety, facilities and grounds, food service, housing, information technology). I wish I could share all of the stories of the tremendous effort put in by some of these staff members to make sure that our students are well-served during the times when the campus is otherwise closed. We have 725 students living on campus who depend on these staff members.

Here is one story that I found to be a good example of the amazing dedication of our staff. Cheri Hicks, catering director, from Sodexo (our campus dining services provider) came to work on Monday morning at 5:30 a.m. and she stayed until Wednesday night, sleeping in the dining office on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Because of the inclement weather she stayed to make sure that our students would be fed. On Tuesday evening, Cheri and a very small group of her staff made sure that hot meals were prepared in Marletto’s for our students. This showed a great deal of care for our students, but also for her staff who would have had to venture out in difficult traveling conditions to get to campus.

Some of the students put together a thank you card and put it on Cheri’s desk to show their appreciation. Hats off to Cheri for her exemplary dedication.