Five staff members earn top excellence award

Five staff members are being honored in 2005 as recipients of the annual President’s Employee Excellence Award.

Award criteria focus on the outstanding contributions made by the employee regarding productivity of the unit; innovative problem solving; positive working relations with students, the public and co-workers; and community service.

Look for feature articles and photos showcasing all the 2005 staff and faculty award winners in the March 25 issue of WSU Today.

Those earning 2005 President’s Employee Excellence Awards are:
• Linda Chesser, administrative manager and adviser in the Department of Women’s Studies.
• Keri Druffel, research technician III in the Department of Plant Pathology.
• Debbie Hill, plant communication coordinator in Facilities Operations.
• Don Holbrook, area finance and administrative officer for Student Affairs.
• Donna Robinson, program administrative manager for CUB catering and events.

Since inception of the awards in 1990, it has been typical (though there have been exceptions) for three members of the staff to be selected. As a result of President V. Lane Rawlins’ emphasis on upgrading the recognition program for WSU staff, the number of honorees has been permanently increased to five per year. This increase is more consistent with the number of faculty awards that also will be presented at the April 1 World Class Face to Face Showcase events. This is the first step in an enhanced program to recognize and value all WSU employees. (Please see related article elsewhere in this issue)

Joan King, chair of the selection committee, discussed the difficulty of choosing only five to honor from the original pool of nominees. “All of the nominees show an admirable commitment to quality, innovation, service and productivity. To choose only five from this group was very difficult.

“The five honorees chosen, however, show a dedication to their work that goes far beyond expectation. They are clearly examples of excellence for all university employees.”

Each recipient will receive a plaque and a $2,500 cash award provided by the WSU Foundation. Information on recent honorees from previous years can be found at http://www.wsu.edu/faculty-staff/faculty-staff-honors/employee-excellence.html. Names of all winners are displayed on a plaque in a showcase on the third floor of WSU’s French Administration Building in Pullman.

Winners for 2005 will be honored at WSU’s Celebrating Excellence recognition banquet on April 1. More information about the banquet, reservations and other April 1 World Class Face to Face Showcase events can be found at http://www.showcase.wsu.edu.

Arrangements made for employees, students to view Academic Showcase

The president and provost have approved the use of one hour of work time for all WSU employees to attend the Academic Showcase, which will run 9 a.m.-noon Friday, April 1, in the CUB. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to schedule attendance with supervisors so university operations aren’t disrupted and so all can enjoy the showcase.

The Academic Showcase juried poster session will celebrate the achievements of individuals engaged in WSU’s central mission: the advancement of scholarship, research and the arts. Work will be displayed in poster or alternate formats for the campus community to view.

Professors who teach classes during Academic Showcase hours and who would like their students to attend can make arrangements to have students sign in at the registration desk so their attendance can be monitored. To make arrangements, contact Tena Old at skeen@wsu.edu by March 15.