NICC Program Developer Krista Walsh-Weitz wins Unsung Champion honor at Women of Achievement ceremony
Friday, April 12, 2024
As a Program Developer at Northeast Iowa Community College for 25 years, Krista has had a huge impact on countless lives.
Each year the Women's Leadership Network of Dubuque honors women in the tri-states through the Women of Achievement Awards event. The Women of Achievement Awards event is designed to recognize and honor women who have already, or aspire to, provide significant contributions in their professional or community roles.
Krista’s nomination read as follows:
An unsung champion describes Krista Walsh-Weitz perfectly. As a Program Developer at Northeast Iowa Community College for 25 years, she has had a huge impact on countless lives, but without much recognition for all her work behind the scenes.
A signature program for the college is our summer youth programming including our annual Kids on Campus event in Peosta and NICC for Kids in Calmar. Each July, hundreds of kids in grades 2 - 7 spend the week at NICC learning, exploring, making new friends and giving parents a bit of a break! We have had well over 1,000 kids come to camp in the 13 years that Krista has led the program. She is the master behind this program, setting up classes for the kids to take, working with and finding teachers, managing volunteers, communicating with parents and kids, ensuring all logistics are handled for the week and most importantly ensuring every child has a positive experience. There is not a year that has gone by that we have not received praise from parents on what a great program this is for our area youth, and the kids love her! This is a direct result of the work and hours that Krista puts into it each year.
Krista also collaborates with Greater Dubuque Development on their newcomer program Distinctively Dubuque. For the past 12 years, Krista has been the behind-the-scenes coordinator of this program. She handles all the logistics of the program from coordinating the curriculum, managing registrations, working with venues, presenters and caterers and being at every session to ensure the newcomers feel welcomed and have a positive experience. Since the program's inception, Krista has helped welcome more than 1,500 individuals to the Dubuque area and the feedback we receive is always positive! It’s not uncommon for past participants to stay in touch with Krista for years afterward.
In addition to the mentioned programs, Krista also develops and manages many programs offered to our business and community members, from fun things like cooking classes and dance classes to computer classes. In addition, she develops and runs many Opportunity Dubuque programs to help get individuals into employment such as our Culinary Certificate, Customer Service Certificate and Childcare Certificate. In addition, she serves on the Steeple Square board and collaborates with their community outreach programs offering classes at the center and assisting with their free community meal programs.
Krista has a generous heart and is always willing to volunteer her time and talents. She is passionate about fundraising for the Loras Dance Marathon, Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House in awareness for childhood cancer in honor of her late daughter Anna.
She is a true unsung champion at NICC who deserves recognition for her work, I hope you will consider her for this award.