Staff Award Recipients Revealed

Four staff members at the College were honored with Staff Recognition Awards last week. This year’s award recipients were selected by the 2012 Staff Recognition Award winners based on recommendations from colleagues praising their service to the College in leadership, stewardship, attitude and community service.

The four winners of the 2012 Staff Recognition Award selected Interim Director of the Center for Careers and Internships Peggy Burns, Catering and Convenience Food Coordinator Nancy Parsons, Laboratory Stores Manager Tom Sheluga and Space Manager Mary Carr Stanley to receive the honor this year.

The staff recognition awards are endowed by Professor Emeritus of Sociology Rudolf K. Haerle and recognize the importance of the role the staff plays in the College’s daily functions. Last year’s award winners, Custodial Team Leader Cindy Leno, Coordinator for Community-Based Environmental Studies Diane Munroe, Commons Dining Room Manager Brent Simons and Director of Student Fellowships and Health Professions Advising Arlinda Wickland, decided collectively on the winners of the 2013 award.

In an email, Munroe wrote that the guidelines for the award established by Haerle stipulate that the award must recognize one Dining Services staff member and one Facilities Services staff member, but the other two recipients can come from any other department of the College. Staff members submitted written nominations for their colleagues based on their work in areas of leadership, stewardship, attitude, and community service to be reviewed by the 2012 award recipients.

“It was a pleasure to read through all of the nominations and learn about all of the fantastic efforts of our dedicated staff, and many more than four people could have received this award,” Munroe said.

She noted that the winners of this year’s award demonstrated “above and beyond” conduct in the areas of evaluation.

Simons added that in evaluating the nominations for the award, previous winners also considered the number of years the nominee had spent in service at the College.

The staff members who won the award this year learned of their recognition several weeks ago, and all reported to be surprised and honored.

“Because I was chosen by my peers, it is even more gratifying,” Burns wrote in an email.

Stanley also wrote that she was honored to be chosen by her colleagues for recognition.

“The award is special in that it represents peer support and recognizes hard work and dedication of staff to Middlebury College,” Stanley said. “As I look at the plaques of others who have received the award, I feel humbled, grateful and proud to be included in this special group of people.”

A reception for the award recipients and their colleagues will be held on Oct. 30 in Crossroads.