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Jun 02, 2026<\/p>\n
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OU\u2019s 2026 Wilhelm Award recipient takes pride in helping students become graduates<\/p>\n
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For Lisa Welker, the best part of working at Oakland University is helping students reach the finish line of graduation. As a graduation auditor in OU\u2019s Office of the Registrar, Welker partners with advising staff to ensure that students are on track to complete all requirements needed to graduate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I love most is seeing the excitement in a student\u2019s eyes or even in their voice or in their email that they\u2019re getting to the finish line,\u201d Welker said. \u201cI really strive to develop a relationship with students and advising offices to make sure we\u2019re doing whatever we can to help students graduate and start their next journey as OU alumni.\u201d<\/p>\n
Welker\u2019s collegial spirit and tireless dedication to students are among the reasons she has been selected as the 2026 Sharon Wilhelm Excellence Award. The award is given annually to a university clerical\/technical employee who exemplifies the positive, \u201ccan-do\u201d spirit of Sharon Wilhelm, whose 45-year career was defined by the exceptional service and support she provided to OU staff, faculty and students.<\/p>\n
\u201cLisa mirrors the Sharon Wilhelm spirit by constantly looking for ways to help students cross the finish line,\u201d said OU Registrar Tricia Westergaard, who nominated Welker for the award. \u201cHer work ethic is defined by a \u2018student-first\u2019 mentality. She views every audit not as a checklist, but as a person\u2019s hard-earned goal. Her proactive approach ensures that the \u2018finish line\u2019 is accessible to everyone, and she handles the high volume of her role with a grace and positivity that boosts the morale of the entire records team.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Westergaard, Welker\u2019s commitment to the student journey is best exemplified by her extraordinary “end-of-semester dash,” in which Welker collaborates with advising directors during tight timeframes each April, August and December to ensure that students receive their degrees.<\/p>\n
Welker\u2019s December 2025 \u201cdash\u201d included helping to award approximately 700 degrees considered high-priority due to their relation to student work or licensure requirements. This was accomplished in just three days, an exceptionally quick turnaround that allowed students to move seamlessly into the next phase of their professional development.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThis rapid turnaround was not just a clerical feat,\u201d Westergaard explained. \u201cIt was a life-changing service that allowed these students to pursue professional licensure without a gap in their careers, directly supporting their transition into the workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n
Welker has also demonstrated exceptional performance through her leadership in the University Stop-Out Initiative. By meticulously auditing students who left OU just short of a degree, and proactively searching for ways to re-engage them, she has worked with OU\u2019s senior associate registrar and advising staff and personally helped over 130 students return to complete their credentials in just the last two years.<\/p>\n
\u201cHelping stop-out students is another passion of mine,\u201d Welker said. \u201cIt\u2019s gratifying to see students who have been gone a while get to the finish line and earn their degree.\u201d<\/p>\n
Westergaard calls the initiative \u201ca triple-win for the university\u201d that increases graduation rates, sometimes generates tuition revenue, and, most importantly, honors the university\u2019s commitment to student success.<\/p>\n
Welker\u2019s work with stop-out students, and her willingness to go above and beyond to help every student succeed, stood out to Provost Amy Thompson when she informed Welker of her selection as this year\u2019s Wilhelm Award recipient.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt really honored and blessed, because a lot of the things she mentioned were qualities that I\u2019ve always prided myself on,\u201d Welker said. \u201cIt\u2019s just so nice to know that the university leadership and the people I work with notice those attributes and appreciate them.\u201d<\/p>\n
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