Campus Director Abbey Fischer presents the Outstanding Service Award to James Wyngaard of Rice Lake Community Media

Each year, the UW-Eau Claire — Barron County staff select a community member to recognize and show appreciation to for their Outstanding Service to the campus.

Before the start of the first of the fall series of “Thursdays at the U” lecture series on Thursday afternoon, Campus Director Abbey Fischer surprised someone in the audience and presented the award.

"James Wyngaard of Rice Lake Community Media had multiple nominations and was the hands-down favorite for the 2022–23 academic year," Fischer said. "We so value his many hours of service to our Thursdays at the U program, Communiversity Band, Red Cedar Choir, Indigenous Peoples Celebrations, commencement and many other events. James is always willing to lend a hand to our campus — and the Rice Lake community."

“It was a VERY big surprise,” said Wyngaard. “I was completely stunned! Never saw it coming and apparently my part timers knew about it before I did. I am so grateful for it!”

UWEC-BC event coverage is a staple of the video programming Rice Lake Community Media presents on its many streaming and cable television platforms.

reprinted from The Chronotype with additional comments from James