Employee's 'value of service' reflected in YWCA recognition
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Katie L. Mackey, academic skills specialist at Pennsylvania College of Technology, is one of 15 new inductees into the YWCA Northcentral Pennsylvania’s Women of Excellence program.
"While Katie’s commitment to improving the lives of others is evident through her work at Penn College since 2005, Katie’s value of service to others has been a theme throughout her entire life. Katie is selfless in all of her interactions," her college nominator wrote. "She role-models the values of Woman of Excellence in her professional and personal roles. Katie’s resume illustrates the broad impact she has through our community, from working to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for students at Penn College, to the United Way, Family Promise, their children’s activities, and more.
"We are so grateful that she chooses to spend the majority of her day at Penn College, where she is respected and highly valued."
While Mackey's campus and community involvement are extensive, her reputation for kindness is evident in a shared story from several Christmases ago – a time, the nominator said, when "her two sons were in prime ages for wishful thinking about the pile of gifts that Santa might bring in a few days." Working with Family Promise of Lycoming County, volunteeering to spend the night at a church with people who were without homes of their own that season, the Mackeys (their two boys included) partnered with one identified family in advance to help with "wish lists." Christmas Eve included a big-screen showing of "The Polar Express," and morning brought gifts and a celebratory breakfast.
"That’s the thing about Katie. She doesn’t have a checklist of the right times of year to volunteer, or the Saturday once a month that she feels obligated to donate of her time or resources," the nominator continued. "Service to others is in the fabric of who she is. It is how she was brought up. How she (and husband Jon are) teaching their sons for the future to be. And how she lives every day."
Inducted during a banquet at the Williamsport Country Club on Thursday, Mackey is the 13th Penn College employee to be selected in the 11 years of the local YWCA’s Women of Excellence program. The event celebrates the honorees’ strength, integrity, leadership and dedication to Lycoming County.
Mackey holds a master’s degree in adult education from Penn State’s World Campus and a bachelor’s degree in applied human services from Penn College. After two years as a care manager with the Philadelphia Corporation of Aging, she returned to her alma mater as a residence life coordinator from 2005-10 - the start of a 14-year Student Affairs history that included service as director of campus and community engagement. Mackey's primary current duties are coordination, development and implementation of the college's Early Engagement and Student Success platform.
"Throughout my time at Penn College, my greatest reward has been working directly with students," she said. "This has been a long-lasting passion of mine since I was introduced to student leadership as a Resident Assistant in college. I receive an incredible amount of satisfaction if I know I have done something to help or support a student."
"I often wonder what a world of increased kindness might look like," Mackey added. "I truly believe that kindness alone can have such a positive impact on your life. I feel that it is a core value of mine, and I hope to continue to share and spread kindness throughout my community."
"While Katie’s commitment to improving the lives of others is evident through her work at Penn College since 2005, Katie’s value of service to others has been a theme throughout her entire life. Katie is selfless in all of her interactions," her college nominator wrote. "She role-models the values of Woman of Excellence in her professional and personal roles. Katie’s resume illustrates the broad impact she has through our community, from working to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for students at Penn College, to the United Way, Family Promise, their children’s activities, and more.
"We are so grateful that she chooses to spend the majority of her day at Penn College, where she is respected and highly valued."
While Mackey's campus and community involvement are extensive, her reputation for kindness is evident in a shared story from several Christmases ago – a time, the nominator said, when "her two sons were in prime ages for wishful thinking about the pile of gifts that Santa might bring in a few days." Working with Family Promise of Lycoming County, volunteeering to spend the night at a church with people who were without homes of their own that season, the Mackeys (their two boys included) partnered with one identified family in advance to help with "wish lists." Christmas Eve included a big-screen showing of "The Polar Express," and morning brought gifts and a celebratory breakfast."That’s the thing about Katie. She doesn’t have a checklist of the right times of year to volunteer, or the Saturday once a month that she feels obligated to donate of her time or resources," the nominator continued. "Service to others is in the fabric of who she is. It is how she was brought up. How she (and husband Jon are) teaching their sons for the future to be. And how she lives every day."
Inducted during a banquet at the Williamsport Country Club on Thursday, Mackey is the 13th Penn College employee to be selected in the 11 years of the local YWCA’s Women of Excellence program. The event celebrates the honorees’ strength, integrity, leadership and dedication to Lycoming County.
Mackey holds a master’s degree in adult education from Penn State’s World Campus and a bachelor’s degree in applied human services from Penn College. After two years as a care manager with the Philadelphia Corporation of Aging, she returned to her alma mater as a residence life coordinator from 2005-10 - the start of a 14-year Student Affairs history that included service as director of campus and community engagement. Mackey's primary current duties are coordination, development and implementation of the college's Early Engagement and Student Success platform.
"Throughout my time at Penn College, my greatest reward has been working directly with students," she said. "This has been a long-lasting passion of mine since I was introduced to student leadership as a Resident Assistant in college. I receive an incredible amount of satisfaction if I know I have done something to help or support a student."
"I often wonder what a world of increased kindness might look like," Mackey added. "I truly believe that kindness alone can have such a positive impact on your life. I feel that it is a core value of mine, and I hope to continue to share and spread kindness throughout my community."