CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Dads Association at the University of Illinois will recognize the 2009 Certificate of Merit Award recipients at the Dads Association Annual Banquet on Nov. 13.
The merit awards recognize a student, a faculty member, a staff member and a registered student organization for their contributions to the improvement of the university and the community. There were no faculty recipients this year.
The 2009 recipients:
• Meghan Smith, an information technology support specialist in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences‘ Library, Information and Alumni Center, received the Outstanding Staff Award. Smith provides critical hardware and software support and is in charge of the inventory system for the multi-lab computing facility. In addition, she monitors and schedules use of individual instructional labs for classes and other events, and provides hardware, software and audio-visual support for the conference spaces in the ACES Library, Information and Alumni Center.
In her nomination, Jeana McAllister, manager of system services, describes Smith as “an excellent colleague who is willing to go the extra mile. Meghan goes above and beyond her assigned duties, identifying new areas where she can make positive contributions to the college and the campus.”
Smith recently developed more efficient Web pages for her unit, and developed a process that has decreased power usage in the computer labs. She also developed a Web tutorial for a new program that allows users to access software remotely.
• The oldest and largest freshman honor society, Phi Eta Sigma, was named the Outstanding Registered Student Organization. Founded at Illinois on March 22, 1923, the society has more than 350 chapters throughout the U.S. and more than 900,000 members.
A leader in philanthropic giving, Phi Eta Sigma raised more than $6,900 for Relay for Life last spring, contributed to libraries in Africa, and provided school supplies in Argentina, as well as to many local schools. Phi Eta Sigma expanded its off-campus tutoring to include Urbana Middle School, New Hope Academy and Garden Hills Elementary School. Valued at tens of thousands of dollars, the tutoring has been given credit for raising the test scores of students. Phi Eta Sigma members also give back to campus, offering free peer-to-peer tutoring through group and private sessions.
• Michael Long, a senior in plant biotechnology and molecular biology from Monmouth, Ill., who plans to pursue a career in pharmacy, was named Outstanding Student. Employed in the ACES computer labs, Long provides assistance to faculty and staff members and students. His attention to detail and commitment to quality service has provided valuable contributions to the lab, including a simple, logical solution to a printing problem.
“Even though his job can be hectic and frustrating, Michael always manages to calm things down and find a solution to the problem,” wrote McAllister, his nominator and supervisor.
Long’s service work includes membership on the ACES Library Board of Trustees and street clean-up duty with his fraternity.
The Dads Association, established in 1923, is believed to be one of the nation’s longest-serving parent organizations. The association supports programs, services and activities that promote the health, safety and well-being of the university community and serves as the parent liaison to the campus.
Recipients receive a framed certificate, an engraved mantle clock and a cash award.
