YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Young Harris College Sodexo Senior Cashier Heidi Kapler was named the national winner of the “THX Award” for the month of January. This is a customer-oriented award for the “universities” division of Sodexo in North America, and Ms. Kapler was chosen as the winner out of 600 colleges and universities in the United States.
There is a QR code at each register in the Grace Rollins Dining Hall. The code can be scanned by a student, an employee, or a community member who comes to dine. If a YHC Sodexo team member does something kind or helpful, a customer can then scan the code and write a description of the gesture. At the regional level, Sodexo gathers all submitted comments and picks a regional winner. YHC students left glowing reviews of Ms. Kapler in their 46 nominations of her for the regional award, and these reviews led her to win at the national level as well.
“Heidi is the sweetest person I’ve ever met. I always look forward to my small chats with her at lunch. Her warmth reminds me so much of home,” wrote a YHC student. “Home” was a theme across many students’ feelings toward Ms. Kapler.
“Heidi’s kindness and compassion toward our community are as important as the tasks she completes in her daily work, and she gives maximum effort to both,” said YHC Chief Operating Officer Bo Wright. “Her genuine interest in students, faculty, and staff, coupled with her heart to serve, make her an impressive employee and an even more inspiring person. We are blessed and thankful to have Heidi as a colleague at Young Harris College.”
Sodexo CEO of Universities Brett Ladd presented Ms. Kapler with her award through a virtual ceremony. Ms. Kapler’s supervisors Bo Wright and YHC Sodexo General Manager John Luc congratulated her at a celebration in the Grace Rollins Dining Hall.
Ms. Kapler, better known as “Ms. Heidi” to YHC students, has worked at Young Harris College for nearly 8 years. She is originally from Venezuela, but she moved to the area several years ago, where she loves pouring into each student she greets at the doors of the dining hall. When she is not at YHC, she spends much of her time with her mother-in-law who also lives in the area. Ms. Kapler has three adult daughters, yet she treats each YHC student and employee like family.
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the prestigious Peach Belt Conference. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
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