Eight civil service staff employees will be honored with the Chancellor's Distinguished Staff Award at a banquet April 24. The award recognizes exceptional performance.
Each recipient receives $2,000 and a plaque. Recipients' names also are engraved on a plaque displayed in the Staff Human Resources Office. The names of past winners are online.
Permanent staff employees with at least two years of service or retired employees in status appointments during the calendar year may be nominated for the award. A committee recommends finalists, who are then approved by the chancellor.
Tony J. Hynes, a senior library specialist in the Literature and Languages Library, is the unit's sole staff member and controls the circulation, maintenance, ordering and cataloging of print and online books, journals and databases.
The library was formed from a merger of the Modern Languages and Linguistics Library and the English Library in 2010. Hynes worked with a staff member of the English Library to determine how the processes of both libraries could be combined for the most efficiency.
Hynes' willingness to help patrons as well as his courteous and considerate treatment of everyone sends a clear message that the library stands ready to serve faculty members and students, and that everyone is welcome.
"He has helped to bridge whatever distance may exist between faculty and staff by communicating with unfailing patience and goodwill," said library professor Jane Block, the head of the Ricker Library of Architecture and Art. "I have come to rely upon him as an important resource, conferring with him about reference requests that would normally be reserved only for professional librarians."
Hynes has taken several classes in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and has attended library workshops. He also was one of the first staff members to choose to participate in the library's Supervisory Training Institute, which emphasized improving the workplace environment and the supervision of staff members and students.
Alice S. Lafond is a main desk attendant at the Illini Union Hotel. She's responsible for providing exemplary guest service through making reservations, answering questions and attending to the needs of every person who stays at the hotel.
"No matter what the situation, there is no doubt that Alice will use her experience and judgment to ensure that the immediate needs of the guest are met foremost," said Edward Slazinik, the director of the Illini Union.
According to the recommendation letters, Lafond has gone above and beyond the expectations of her position. Once, for example, Lafond was able to help a guest personally obtain additional clothing items in order to attend a UI Foundation-related event.
"Alice promotes positive morale by all she does," Slazinik said. "When Alice arrives to work she is always cheerful, energetic and ready to take on whatever comes. ... She is one of the best mentors to the student staff that there is. She takes time to go over each area of the operation with them until they are comfortable with it. She doesn't criticize and is always very constructive."
"The most notable quality Lafond exhibits is her passion for service and her true desire to make guests and all visitors feel at ease and comfortable in the time they spend with us," said Mulugeta Ferede, the senior associate director of the Illini Union.
Lisa J. Leininger has been an office manager for more than five years in the department of bioengineering. Last spring the department began a major reorganization, resulting in Leininger having twice the office responsibility. She now is the main channel for all student and faculty communication.
Leininger arranges visits for at least 10 faculty candidates and another dozen visiting faculty members each year. For each visit, Leininger arranges a series of one-on-one meetings, seminars and travel, while personally shuttling visitors around campus and managing their expense reports.
"No task is too big or small for Lisa to perform with a smile," said Rohit Bhargava, a professor of bioengineering, of electrical and computer engineering, and of mechanical science and engineering. "Not only does she perform her assigned job functions, she readily accepts any unexpected tasks. Since we are a new department, there are plenty of occasions when someone has to step up."
Leininger's attitude and presence do not go unnoticed by her department. "Her bright smile to everyone who steps into the bioengineering office is unmistakable and it makes all of us feel truly welcome to the department," said Su-A Myong, a professor of bioengineering. "Furthermore, her congenial personality is essential in maintaining the department in a peaceful and agreeable atmosphere, especially when it comes to stressful times. She is capable of handling her own as well as others' stressful situations with calmness, yet without losing focus."
Frank F. McCurry has been a carpenter in Facilities and Services for 12 years. He is a positive influence in the Carpenter Shop by always being upbeat, trustworthy and respectful of co-workers and his customers in the field.
"He obviously possesses the technical skills and knowledge of a skilled carpenter, but he distinguishes himself with his pleasant demeanor and sunny attitude," said Andrew Sestak, the assistant director of the University Office for Planning and Budgeting. "Frank treats the customer along with fellow employees with respect and dignity, and his attitude contributes to a positive work environment for all associated with him."
McCurry's daily tasks include everything from reading and interpreting building plans to repairing or replacing broken windows, ceiling and floor tiles, door closures and much more.
McCurry was the 2010-11 recipient of the Facilities and Services Employee of the Year Award, as voted on by a committee of his peers. In December 2011, he completed course work to obtain a bachelor of arts degree in general studies.
Outside of his work, McCurry gives back to the community by volunteering as a mentor in the Champaign-Urbana One-to-One Mentoring Program. He also coaches seventh and eighth grade boys' basketball at Jefferson Middle School.
Tracy L. Osby is the campus recycling coordinator for the waste management department within Facilities and Services. He has worked for F&S since April 1997 when he was hired as a building service worker.
Waste management is responsible for hauling waste from campus, managing and maintaining the Waste Transfer Station, and the sorting, handling and brokering of recyclable materials.
"In addition to securing good pricing for the recyclable materials we sold historically, Tracy recently identified a vendor who will purchase discarded pallets for the first time in the history of our formal recycling efforts," said Carl V. Wegel, the F&S director of maintenance. "This past year, Tracy has been working with the Student Sustainability Committee and the Housing Division to advance recycling on campus to include food-waste composting."
Osby is recognized as an excellent supervisor who encourages excellence in his employees, including the eight to 10 employees hired through a partnership with the Developmental Services Center.
"He is well known and highly regarded by everyone he encounters," said Jack Dempsey, the executive director of F&S. "Tracy has experienced what serving the university was like at every level. The leadership skills he acquired during that time and his ability to make each worker feel valued and respected make him the type of supervisor every employee would like to have."
During his employment, Osby has completed the Professional Supervisor series of courses offered through the Center for Training and Professional Development. He is now enrolling at Parkland College to pursue a degree - the first member of his family to do so.
Norris S. Purdy is a distribution clerk for the UI Library. Purdy works in the mail and distribution area and receives, sorts and delivers materials coming into and then out again through the university library system.
"Purdy begins each day by checking in countless books, making sure that the contents of the boxes received are as indicated on the packing slip and that books are not damaged," said Mike Cinker, the library facilities manager. "This is a huge task, considering that the UI library holds one of the largest collections in the world."
Even when he receives more material than expected, Purdy maintains a positive attitude.
"You could easily call Purdy the unit 'cheerleader' because he is always upbeat, nudging others to perform well and making a person feel like they can meet and accomplish a challenging situation," said Cindy Kelly, the head of library human resources.
"Norris is an invaluable member of the staff who regularly conducts himself in a manner that reflects well both on the library and the university while doing work that is complicated, fast-paced, physically demanding and absolutely essential to the library and the 4 million-plus people it served last year," said Scott Walter, the associate dean of libraries.
Clara M. Thorpe has worked as an as office support specialist for the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services for six years.
Her responsibilities include serving as the receptionist at DRES and providing secretarial support for various offices within the unit. She assists with the biweekly payroll, which typically includes more than 300 time sheets from student workers within the Beckwith residential program alone. In addition, she manages numerous staff calendars, helps the business manager, orders supplies and equipment, and interacts with the students who participate in the wheelchair athletics program and Delta Sigma Omicron, a disability service organization.
"While Clara is flawless with mailing and databases, it is her quiet, friendly demeanor when interacting with the students that stands out the most," said Maureen Gilbert, the coordinator of the Office of Campus Life. "She is always welcoming and willing to assist with even the most minimal request. Clara is engaging and displays an openness toward the students that makes them feel worthy and important."
"Clara does her work quickly and efficiently and is always willing to go above and beyond when needed to assist on a project," said Kim Collins, the assistant director of academic services for DRES. "Clara works on many projects from various staff and departments within DRES that have different personalities and needs, and she prioritizes and completes them all in a timely and error-free manner."
Cathy J. Warmbier has worked for 18 years in UI Extension's state 4-H office, and the past nine as office administrator. In addition, she has coordinated two major office relocations in less than three years and has served as the office administrator for four state 4-H directors.
Warmbier's tasks as office administrator include personnel management, clerical support, working with outside vendors, and understanding and using Banner. Warmbier's position requires not only computer and fiscal skills but also technical expertise.
"Cathy's greatest strength is identifying and resolving problems - often before anyone else knows they are problems," said Madonna Weese, a 4-H curriculum specialist. "We all count on her to help us prevent problems whenever possible, and to solve them when they do come up. She never fails to help us or to point us in the right direction to find a resolution."
Warmbier's overall performance on the job is "stellar," said Richard W. Clark, a professor of agricultural leadership education. "She was quick to master new tasks and always wanted to learn new information. She requested opportunities to go to training in order to keep on the cutting edge of office administration duties. She also encouraged all of the office staff to never be satisfied with their current level of knowledge and to work for excellence in their job performance. She was prepared for meetings and was always willing to go the extra mile to get reports and other materials ready on time and with accuracy."