2007 Distinguished Staff Awards presented by ETSU

JOHNSON CITY – Outstanding staff at East Tennessee State University are honored by their peers each year through the Distinguished Staff Awards, which are presented at the university’s Staff Picnic sponsored by the Staff Senate.

Each winner receives a $1,000 check, provided for this purpose by the ETSU Foundation, and each receives a plaque from the Staff Senate acknowledging their achievement. Presenting awards at the recent picnic were ETSU Vice President for Administration and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Wilsie S. Bishop and Staff Senate President Karen Sullivan.

Awards are made in six non-faculty employment categories, with Career Awards given as merited to staff members in any category.

University employees nominate individuals for the awards based on one or more of these criteria: a staff member whose performance of assigned tasks deserves recognition and inspires other employees, positive attitude in working with others, commitment to the university community, and exercise of extraordinary courage.

Dr. Sally Lee won the Distinguished Staff Award in Category 1 – Executive, Administrative and Managerial. The associate vice president for Student Affairs is known as a strong advocate for ETSU students and their success. According to her nomination, she “wears many hats and works long hours – being at her desk during the day while being present on campus for (numerous) evening and weekend events. . . . She is a gifted presenter who has welcomed parents and new students at orientations for many years and made them smile at a time when they are feeling just a little bit nervous about entering this new phase of their lives.” Another describes Lee as an energetic, supportive, encouraging mentor and an administrator “who truly cares about student concerns and issues. . . . The most impressive part of her accomplishments . . . is not in the volume of work accomplished, but in the spirit in which she works. She is quick to include new employees and students in everyday activities to make them feel welcome and a part of the ETSU community.” “(Lee) is articulate, professional, conscientious and committed to improving student success . . . and has a positive approach to work and life.”

Charlie Forrester, director of Campus ID Services in the Division of Student Affairs, won in Category 3 – Professional Non-Faculty. Forrester has helped the campus ID system grow into an integral part of the ETSU campus. “With its debit card features, access control services, support for (computer) lab printing, and many other features . . . the ID card has become a common part of everyday life on campus. (Forrester’s) easy-going style makes students and staff alike feel comfortable working with him on matters related to their ID card. He is concerned about each individual and their needs and concerns – whether it be getting their financial aid as soon as possible, their card doesn’t work in the laundry machine, or their need to quickly add someone to an access group.” This longtime employee, who worked for the University Bookstore before attaining his current position, supports ETSU in many other ways, from participation in Staff Senate to regularly attending basketball games.

In Category 4 – Clerical and Secretarial, the winner was Jamie Simmons, shipping and receiving clerk in Central Receiving. “Jamie’s job at Central Receiving is many-faceted,” wrote her nominator. “She handles all her job duties with remarkable accuracy. She is very conscientious about her job and has many times gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a satisfied customer. Jamie deals with many different people on a daily basis . . . and handles each with equal aplomb. From the truck drivers who make deliveries to the faculty and staff who call with questions, and to the students that we serve, Jamie is the face and voice of Central Receiving. She is well-liked by all she comes in contact with and serves as a wonderful ambassador for ETSU.”

Steve Greenwell, electronics technician in the D.P. Culp University Center, received the award in Category 5 – Technical and Paraprofessional. “Steve serves all users of the University Center in a pleasant, meticulous manner. He treats each event as if it was his own. . . . With thousands of events being hosted in the University Center, hundreds require some type of technical support – it is these events to which Steve gives his personal attention. . . . (He) and his colleagues (also) cover many events in (Memorial Center . . . that) often require long hours sitting in the press box at the controls. Last-minute requests are the bane of someone charged with providing technical services. . . . Whenever possible, Steve accepts these requests and goes the extra mile. . . . This additional work and stress is accepted without complaint and performed in good spirits. . . . Steve willingly works weekends, nights, holidays, etc., . . . to cover events for which he is responsible. He loves ETSU and works to ensure that the events he covers bring pride to the university.”

The award in Category 6 – Skilled Crafts, was given to Sammy McCray, an electrician in the Department of Facilities Management’s Plant Maintenance and Repairs Division. He is described by one nominator as “a man of few words but big actions” who has been with the university for 28 years. His work takes him all over the ETSU main campus, as well as the university’s off-campus locations throughout the Tri-Cities, and requires many overtime hours. He “stays until the work is completed, even in unfavorable weather conditions (and when) the work is strenuous and sometimes dangerous. Sammy’s work knowledge, integrity and ethics have always been exceptional, (and he shows) willingness to help out in a situation outside his duties.” Another nominator wrote, “Sammy’s dedication is evident as he also works all athletic events, concerts (and) lectures. His handiwork and attention to detail are evident campus-wide. He performs his job safely, quickly, and with a smile on his face. He is a devoted individual who is dedicated to his church and family, as well.”

Alma “Shirl” Davis was the winner in Category 7 – Service/Maintenance. A lead worker in Custodial Services in the Department of Facilities Management who has been with the university for 29 years, Davis is commended by one nominator “for her dedication, her conscientious work ethic, and her kind and friendly attitude toward others.” She “realizes that her job is important to the success of our mission,” wrote another, adding that she “has faithfully served the mission of the (James H. Quillen College of Medicine) for 29 years. She worked just as hard to keep the old student center clean and shiny as she does Stanton-Gerber Hall. . . . She has always exceeded our expectations and she is a delightful lady.” “She is always quick to greet you with a warm hello and takes great pride in seeing that our building is maintained in a manner that helps us attract the best students and faculty to Quillen. . . . She is both attentive to, and protective of, our students and becomes a friend to many who are in (Stanton-Gerber) every night. She has even been known to buy them sodas or share her evening meal . . . when they didn’t have time to go get food. She will always find time to listen when they need to talk (on her breaks, of course!)” another individual wrote. Davis has been commended by medical students who honored her with a Caduceus Award for her efforts on their behalf and is an active volunteer in the community, both on her own and through the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, working in support of veterans and visiting community nursing homes.

The Career Award, which recognizes long-time service to ETSU and excellence throughout the employee’s tenure, was given to Mary Alice Whiteside of Custodial Services in the Department of Facilities Management. She joined the university in 1967 during the administration of the late President Dr. Burgin E. Dossett Sr., and “has provided a significant contribution by perseverance in her work and loyalty to the university” over a span of 40 years. She worked in several buildings before transferring to the first Sherrod Library, and serves today in the new library. Not only does Whiteside maintain cleanliness, “she also finds herself lending a helping hand to lost or confused students looking for offices in the library or (other) buildings on campus,” and colleagues “seek her out for guidance and prayer in times of distress.” In addition, Whiteside encouraged three of her siblings to seek employment at ETSU, and she supported her children as they attended and received degrees from the university.