'Cats Caught Being Awesome

Cassie Shelton - Kinesiology Department

Congratulations to our October 2025 ‘Cats Caught Being Awesome winner!

Cassie was nominated by Melissa Mache, who said, "Cassie Shelton exemplifies the spirit of dedication, service, and care that makes Chico State a remarkable place to learn and work. Cassie consistently goes above and beyond in her role, working to ensure the success of students, faculty, staff, and the department. Her incredible work ethic is evident in everything she does and is reflective of her genuine desire to support others. Whether she is helping a student navigate a challenge, collaborating with faculty on a project, or assisting staff behind the scenes, Cassie is dependable, responsive, and always willing to step in wherever needed. What truly sets Cassie apart is her kindness and generosity with her time. She never hesitates to pause her own work to assist someone else, and she does so with patience and positivity. Her collaborative spirit strengthens the Kinesiology Department community, making it a place where people feel supported and valued. Her dedication, compassion, and drive to help others succeed embody what it means to be caught being awesome. She is without a doubt deserving of this recognition."

Almendra Lawrence, University Communications - September 2025

Almendra was nominated by several people, including Kate Post, who said, "I’d like to nominate Almendra Lawrence for her incredible work bringing Chico State's new Spanish-language microsite (www.csuchico.edu/espanol) to life. This site provides important information to the Spanish-speaking parents and families of prospective students. From day one, Almendra poured her heart into this project—researching, curating, and writing every page with care and intention. She went above and beyond to make sure the content wasn’t just translated, but truly meaningful for Spanish-speaking families. She also collaborated across departments, asked thoughtful questions, and made sure to incorporate the expertise of others along the way. What stands out most is Almendra’s dedication to getting it right. She balanced accuracy, accessibility, and cultural nuance because she knew this resource would make a real difference for first-gen students and their families. Thanks to her, Chico State now has a resource that embodies our HSI “serving-ness” and shows what it looks like to support the whole family. Almendra didn’t just do her job—she elevated it. Her commitment, collaboration, and care made this project shine, and I can’t think of a better example of someone who deserves to be celebrated for going the extra mile for our students, families, and community."  In addition to Kate, Almendra's nominators include Ashley Gebb, Clayton Truscott, Andrew Staples, Kat Clark, Mike Drummond, Glenn Rush, Miciah Garcia, Jason Halley, Teresita Curiel, Elli Alaniz, and Shawn Brackett.  

Enrique Villegas, Office of Admissions - August 2025

Enrique was nominated by Mayra Escobar, who said, "I am proud to nominate Enrique Villegas for the ‘Cats Caught Being Awesome award for his exemplary service to Chico State and the Office of Admissions.  Enrique consistently goes above and beyond, particularly in showcasing his Chico State pride by helping the office redesign recruitment swag. His designs elevate our team's presence and pride of who we are. They enables us to enhance our brand with creativity, attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to quality.  Beyond his design work, Enrique is always willing to lend a hand wherever needed. He eagerly takes on new skills to support the team and is dependable in any situation. His flexibility and collaborative spirit make him an invaluable asset. What truly sets Enrique apart is his positive attitude. He faces every challenge with a smile and uplifting presence that boosts team morale. His willingness to help, learn, and lead by example embodies the spirit of service and collaboration.  Enrique’s contributions make a lasting impact, and his dedication deserves recognition."

Kirk McCoskey, Enterprise Applications - July 2025

Kirk was nominated by Liliana Valdes from the Career Center, who said, "Kirk helps the Career Center every semester with uploading new students into Handshake, creating new student/alumni accounts and fixing student account issues as they arise. Every time I reach out for support, he not only answers, but he makes it a priority to find a solution ASAP for the student/alumni in need. A great example of Kirk’s dedication and responsiveness is when I reached out about an issue with over 200 incoming students not having access to Handshake. It was 5:25pm and Kirk was heading out on vacation for two weeks, so he worked late to ensure the incoming students would have active Handshake accounts before they arrived for Summer Orientation. Another example was when a new security feature was being implemented and had the potential to affect the weekly uploads of students into Handshake. Kirk anticipated the potential complication and worked with me to ensure the weekly uploads would continue to happen seamlessly as opposed to waiting until the semester started when it could have created significant account issues. These are just a few of the hundreds of times Kirk has patiently helped us ensure students and alumni have continuous access to Handshake."

Grazia Pennisi, Facilities Management and Services - June 2025

Grazia was nominated by Karen Wagner and 15 other people who work in Meriam Library, who said, "Grazia goes above and beyond. She has revitalized our old porcelain sinks—transforming them from a dull, dingy white to a bright, spotless finish, complete with sparkling faucets. Last summer, she rewaxed the floor near the staff elevator, giving it a beautiful, glossy shine. When some wax accidentally splashed onto the baseboards, she took it upon herself to meticulously scrape off the excess using a razor blade—by hand—demonstrating her attention to detail and commitment to excellence. This summer, her efforts have been just as impressive. We’ve caught her on multiple occasions performing deep cleaning tasks that most would overlook: crawling under tables to remove gum left behind by students, wiping down every chair—including the wheel bases—and even dusting the door jambs by hand. Thanks to her efforts, the entire third floor is noticeably cleaner, brighter, and smells fresher. Her work has significantly improved the environment for both staff and students, and we are grateful for everything she does. Grazia exemplifies what it means to be awesome. Her tireless efforts, proactive attitude, and pride in her work deserve recognition."