Falgien Earns Distinguished Service Award
Torchlight | Summer 2009
What does it take to earn the NACS Foundation's most prestigious recognition? Look no further than the accomplishments of Peggy Falgien, CCR, retired director, University Bookstore, University of Wyoming, Laramie. With an unrelenting drive to serve the college store industry, even in retirement, Peggy Falgien, CCR, former director, University Bookstore, University of Wyoming, Laramie, has put herself at a level many in the industry can only hope to achieve
The NACS Foundation Distinguished Service Award, introduced in 2002, recognizes devotion, service, and visionary leadership to the NACS Foundation. Falgien possesses each of those attributes and so much more. She started in 1977 as the accounting tech responsible for the accounting office at Wyoming, became assistant manager in 1982, and store manager since 1986.
Recently retired, Falgien's accomplishments were certainly not confined to her campus. She served on the boards of four associations, 26 committees, four task forces, and the NACS Foundation Board. Falgien has served as president of NACS, president of the Rocky Mountain Skyline Bookstore Association, and as president of the Western College Bookstore Association twice, including the year the group transitioned to the Independent College Bookstore Association.
Debbie Harvie, CCR, directoreverything in the college store industry, simply because all her efforts come from the heart.
"The NACS Foundation Distinguished Service Award is given to members of our industry that support and believe in the work of our Foundation," Harvie said. "I think that Peggy Falgien is a very deserving recipient of this award. Peggy has supported our Foundation with her work, her energy, and her heart. Peggy's passion for the Foundation gets people excited-it's contagious.
I am so pleased that she will be recognized at this year's CAMEX."
Melanie Sparks, CCR, NACS immediate past president and director of the University of New Mexico Bookstore, said young people in the industry can learn a lot from Falgien, whom she described as a tireless worker, especially when it comes to something she believes in.
"Her devotion to our industry, in particular to the Foundation, is indicative of who she is as a person, and I'm very proud to have had her be a mentor to me," Sparks said.
DeAnn Hazey, executive director, NACS Foundation, said Falgien's extensive network of friends and colleagues have a difficult time saying no to her.
"She literally raised thousands of dollars for the Foundation just from peer-to-peer networking," Hazey said.
Falgien was presented with the award at the Annual Celebration banquet on March 16 at CAMEX in Anaheim, CA.
-Dan Pender