My wonderful mother, Doris Abraham, passed away last week at age 95.  The previous day, Mom had attended a meeting and taken on a volunteer job in her community.  Mom was a force, a doer, a devoted wife, a mother of four, a mother-in-law to four, an adoring grandma, a ridiculously excited great-grandma, a second mom to so many, and a vibrant member of all of her communities until literally her very last day.

It has been 38 years since Mom retired, and sometimes I find myself overlooking her professional accomplishments, which is a mistake. Professionally, Mom was a guidance counselor, a role she embraced after returning to school in her early forties to earn a Master’s Degree from Radford University. During that time, she was also raising four children — a 15-year-old, a 14-year-old, a 12-year-old, and myself, just 6 and starting first grade. My father, though a genuinely loving man, was less attuned to the day-to-day demands of running a household, leaving all of that responsibility to Mom.

Mom loved her work as a guidance counselor at Blacksburg High School.  Although perpetually exhausted, Mom found the students invigorating. She loved collaborating with her peers, and as a guidance counselor to seniors in high school, she was thrilled when they got into colleges. She encouraged so many students to continue their education, and she was adept at finding scholarships and grants so they could afford to go. One student with a developmentally disability called Mom frequently at our home. One time when I was back home, visiting Mom, at least 40 years later, she was still taking calls from that student. And always protecting privacy, I never learned the student’s name.

In 1976 the Blacksburg High School yearbook was dedicated to Mom. Mom was so honored and I am sure my experience of watching Mom be celebrated has influenced my own career. The opening page highlighted her kindness, patience, and ability to connect with students on a personal level, making a lasting impact on their lives:

“Regardless of whether the problem was a college application that needed to be completed or a student with “new school jitters,” she was there and ready to help. She did not question the seriousness or importance of a problem. She worked from the basis that if it was a problem for a student or teacher then it concerned her, too, and it deserved immediate and individual consideration. We thank her for such personal attention and genuine interest.”

Not all organizations have a way of honoring professionals for their contributions, even though every work group, department, and organization knows the people who make a difference. Who are the people in your organization who go above and beyond for the mission? How can you appreciate and acknowledge them, both formally and informally right now?