Giant Thank You Card Delivered to Express Huge Appreciation
Colorado Mesa University was among a select few Colorado universities to remain open during the global COVID-19 pandemic. This accomplishment required the investment of time, energy and tremendous efforts from not only campus officials, but also from people around the community, state and nation. As CMU receives accolades for the Safe Together, Strong Together pandemic response plan, students wanted to create awareness around the role that local healthcare supporters played in allowing CMU to continue delivering higher education when other colleges and universities were forced to shut down.
“Sometimes the best way to acknowledge the effort of people is to simply say ‘thank you’," said CMU Student Life Director Shanae Mundee. “Throughout the month, students found thoughtful ways to make sure all area health workers knew just how much they are appreciated by the Mavily and all the students who were able to continue their educations over the last year.”
Mundee and a number of student leaders worked to focus on extending appreciation to local healthcare workers and experts during the campus’ recent appreciation week celebration. In addition to making thank you cards for CMU faculty, the students also constructed a nearly 10-foot-tall thank you card signed by hundreds of students and dozens of CMU staff.
The card was delivered to Community Hospital, Mesa County Public Health and St. Mary’s Hospital. Each organization hosted the card in their lobby for a week so that employees and health professionals could see the card as they came to and from work.
At each location students delivered the card on a Monday morning handing out gifts to employees and saying thank you to the staff of each organization.
Amanda Mayle was on hand along with key leaders from Mesa County Public Health as students arrived with the card. Students were joined by CMU Physician Assistant Studies Program Director Amy Bronson, EdD, who is one of the university’s pandemic response leaders.
“The pandemic has kept us so busy that we have barely had a chance to catch our breath over the last 12 months,” said Mayle. “The thoughtful gesture allowed our team to take a moment to appreciate the impact their work has had. It was so refreshing.”
St. Mary’s Hospital, Community Hospital and Mesa County Public Health were all part of CMUs’ Safe Together, Strong Together Health Advisory Committee and provided technical, volunteer and advisory services to CMU throughout the entirety of the pandemic.
The giant card is currently at its last display location at Community Hospital. Students will pick up the card and display it for one additional week in the University Center at CMU.
“Healthcare professionals in our community and across the nation worked tirelessly throughout the global public health pandemic,” said Vice President of Marketing/Communications and Fund Development for Community Hospital Karen Martsolf. “The giant thank you card from CMU students was a warm reminder that we are making a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families in our community and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support we have received over the past year.”
