It is my pleasure to introduce UNK’s first KUDOS recipient of 2024, Betsy Warren, Event Scheduling Associate in Facilities Management and Planning. Born and raised in Kearney, Betsy’s ties to UNK run deep. She is a 1997 UNK graduate (Elementary Education) and her father, Wes Hird, served as the College of Fine Arts and Humanities piano tuner and technician for 30 years. She accompanied him to campus while he worked on pianos; she performed on the Drake and Recital Hall stages as a school girl; and the framed Board of Regents KUDOS certificate her father received in 2007 hangs on her office wall.
Betsy receives and coordinates reservations for on-campus, non-academic events—examples of which are Board of Regents meetings at UNK; conventions; magic shows; commencements; and even a wedding or two when, a few years ago, flooding forced the closure of several downtown event centers. She works closely with the Facilities Event/Moving Team to coordinate set-up and take-down of tables, chairs, platforms, and podiums; invoices, collects fees; and coordinates locks and unlocks for after-hour events.
This past year, Warner Hall’s renovation and temporary relocation of 100 employees, caused meeting spaces to dwindle. Betsy’s knowledge of the campus and ingenuity helped meet all needs. And she does a lot more than oversee event scheduling– “the fine print in her contract.”
Asked about the accomplishment of which she is most proud, her first response came with a smile: “Still being employed after 21 years and numerous budget cuts!” She says she does feel “a tremendous sense of pride when she reads about events that take place on campus, knowing she is part of the team that made them happen.” Betsy is a 2020 recipient of the UNK Employee Achievement Award.
With her today is her husband of 23 years, Steven Warren, and Michael Cremers, Director of Facilities. Betsy Warren, please accept our congratulations and thanks for many jobs well done. The impact you have on UNK and the entire University System is greater than you might imagine.