Lois Schreiner, Administrative Specialist

35 Years and Counting

When former extension specialist Wendell Moyer hired Lois Schreiner in 1974, he made her promise she would stay at least a year. Little did she know that 35 years later she would still be working for K-State’s Department of Animal Sciences and Industry and still loving her job.

Schreiner began working for K-State in 1974 at the age of 17 in a receptionist-type position. Today she is the department’s administrative specialist for extension programs and is responsible for the behind the scenes work for many the department’s programs and events, including Cattlemen’s Day, Stocker Field Day, Swine Day and Sheep Day. For these events Schreiner contacts and works with all the exhibitors, caterers and facilities staff, as well as coordinating many other behind the scenes activities. In addition, Schreiner is in charge of producing the department’s monthly newsletter, The News from KSU Animal Sciences.

Schreiner says that each of the events she helps put together is interesting and offers new challenges. “We learn something from each event and try to make it better each time,” she says.

Mike Tokach, state extension leader in Animal Sciences and Industry and Schreiner’s supervisor, cites her excellent communication skills as key to her success in planning the department’s events and producing the monthly newsletter. “Lois is a tremendous asset to our department and to Kansas State University,” Tokach says. “She does a great job of not only performing routine job assignments with an upbeat, positive attitude, but also in anticipating needs and suggesting ways to improve the extension operations within our department.”

Schreiner has seen many changes at K-State since she first started, and the department has watched her change as well – from a 17-year-old high school graduate to a wife and mother of five to a grandmother. She worked in the department through the births of all of her children, and has watched three of them go through college at K-State. Her youngest will graduate this December.

Of her entire working life, only six years have been away from K-State. When her children were younger, Schreiner says, she left the ASI department to work on a part-time basis for the Pottawatomie County extension office. When her position reopened in 1999, the department called her and asked her to apply, bringing her back to the K-State staff.

Family is certainly Schreiner’s number one priority, whether it’s her biological family or her K-State family. “I feel as close to some of the people here as I do my family,” she says. “They’ve been an awesome group to work with. I really appreciate them.”

Schreiner’s co-workers feel the same way. “Lois never seems to have a bad day,” says Tokach. “She always has a smile and warm words to offer. Lois is one of those special people that strives to put Kansas State University in the best light for everybody that she meets every day.”

Schreiner is a lifetime resident of Frankfort, Kan. She and her husband own a farm outside of Frankfort, where they produce mainly soybeans and wheat. All of her five children have stayed relatively close to home, and she considers her two grandchildren, Cade, 7, and Johnny, 4, her main hobbies. “I enjoy spending as much time with them as I can,” she says.

In addition to her position in the department, Schreiner also serves on the Classified Senate, and is currently the secretary. She says it has been a great experience that has allowed her to learn much more about what people are doing in other departments and how they handle things. Schreiner is serving in her fourth year on Classified Senate.

In 2004 Schreiner’s many efforts and achievements were recognized when she was selected as Classified Employee of the Year.

Story by Dena Bunnel, K-State Student