Employees Honored with Awards of Excellence

Georgia Southern University honored 185 staff members celebrating 2,050 years of continuous, full-time service at the University’s 2014 Staff Awards of Excellence Ceremony on Jan. 28 at the Performing Arts Center. President Brooks A. Keel, Ph.D., addressed the staff during Tuesday’s event. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for what you do for this great University. It’s because of your hard work and dedication that Georgia Southern’s future is bright,” he said. During the event, eight employees were announced as Award of Merit recipients:

• Sara Bailey, Resident Life
• Jeff Blythe, Athletics
• Jesse Hopkins, Residential Facilities
• Valerie Kasay, Student Technology
• Jaynie Gaskin, Geology and Geography
• America Minc, Campus Recreation and Intramurals
• Lynn Reaves, Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement
• Joshua Williams, Engineer and IT Student Services

Award of Merit nominees are employees who have improved the work environment, exhibited excellent customer service and shown true character and dedication to Georgia Southern’s mission. A total of 43 employees were nominated for the award, which is sponsored by Georgia Southern’s Staff Council. Award of Merit recipients are nominated by co-workers or supervisors and are chosen by The Staff Council. Winners each receive $1,000, a Georgia Southern Eagle Medallion or plaque and a certificate of appreciation. Years of Service Award recipients each receive a certificate of appreciation and a gift from The University Store. Margaret Lee-Jones, who works as an administrative specialist in the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center and Henry Gale Mays, a delivery worker in the Procurement and Contract Service department, were recognized for 30 years of service. Other Years of Service Award honorees included: 25 Years of Service Richie Akins, Linda Bragg, Patty  Brinson, Michael Fox, Terry Hart, Diana  Kinney, Janette McBride, Daphne Murray, Jacqueline Robbins, Michael Russell, Sharon Singleton, Lavada Sykora, Lisa Vance, Brenda Whittington, Arnold Wilhoite and Paul Wilver. 20 Years of Service Rebecca Akins, Francis Aultman, Cynthia Brunson, Tren Brunson, Hal Cartee, Patricia Collins, William Craven III, Tony Deal, Robert Fordham, Joan Greenlees, Stephen Hart, Ann Hill, Caroline James, Patricia Knight, Marilyn Leon, Gloria Martin, Connie Murphey, Christine Navaee, Vickie Reid, Christina Thompson and Bobbie Williams. 15 Years of Service Patricia Beblowski, Harvey Billups, Kathleen Bridges, Kathryn Bryant, Annette Cason, Jodi Collins, Mattie DeLoach, Anthony Gordon, Gloria Griswold, Abbie Hill, Diane Houston, Savitri Jayaraman, Betty Kennedy, Marshall  Lanier, Daniel Lanier, Lisa Leach, Robert Meguiar, Melanie Mosley, John Mulherin, James Price, Glenda Roberts, Rosa Romeo, Ronald Rushing, Kristie Sanders, Wayne Smith, Emmie Strickland, Stephen Strickland, Anita Thurson, Wendell Tompkins Jr., Lanell Vanlandingham, Ron Vereen, Michael Waller and Ronald Watkins. 10 Years of Service Heather Blackburn, Kristi Bryant, Earnestine Burns, Latoshia Carter, Susan Cason, Kathleen Clifton, Brandy Clouse, Perry Ellis, Jo Hoch, Vicki           King, Philip Leroy Jr., Memory Littles, Shawna Masterson, Darrell Mixon, Jeffrey Palis, Yong Park, Pamela Smith, Francois Song, Joan Stalcup, Jerry Stewart, Theresa Thornburg and Joseph Williams. 5 Years of Service Albert Akins, Dewayne Blizzard, Michael Bocian, George Brannen Jr., Shayne Brinson, Kimberly Brown, Philip Bruce, Marla Bruner, Melissa Butler, Christopher Butler, Julie Cantor, Tiffany Childers, Cameron Clements, Greg Crawford, Michael Czech, Dennis Davis, Caroline Deal, Alana DeAngelis, Brian DeLoach, Myra Dupra, Belinda Durden, Curtis Dyal, Addie Edwards, Eric Floyd, Carol Fox, Danny Garrigus, Debra Gleason, Maria Graham, Candice Green, Kerry Greenstein, Jane Griffith, Suzette Guadagno, Jeanette Hadden, Roderick Harper, Eleanor Haynes, Queen Hodges, Megan Hopkins, Alicia Howe, Courtney Jenkins, Alicia Johnson, Harry Jones, Alneata Kemp, Cathy King, David Kipkemboi, Stacy Kluge, Michelle Klumpp, Danny Lanier, Herbert Lensch IV, Felicia Lewis, Vernon Littles, Theresa Mason, Paul Michaud, Andrew Michaud Jr., James Miles, Maya Mirzoeva, Barbara Mosley, Stephanie Neal, Emma Newton, Charles Patterson, Arnold Perkins, Christopher Powell, Marion Pugh, Malikua Lasenia Rhodes, Brenda Richardson, Kelley Riffe, Claude Robertson Jr., Linda Robinson, Shala Rozier, Antonio Samson Jr., Heather Scarboro, Lakeyra Scott, Dustin Sharber, Peggy Stepanek, Ricardo Strickland, Linda Tatum, Amy Taylor, Issac Taylor, Joanne Thomas, Kathy Tucker, Jeb Tyson, Lindsay Tyson, W.D. Vickery, Kim Walker, Howatta Washington, Ladeidre Washington, Alva Wilbanks, James Williams, Tanice Woodcock, Kristine Yager-Rushton and Stanley Young. Georgia Southern employs more than 2,000 staff members and the Staff Council is a collective voice for those who work in non-faculty employee roles. The Council supports a variety of activities and initiatives to improve the quality of life and effectiveness of the University’s dedicated and valuable staff, and hosts the Staff Awards of Excellence Ceremony each year. Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 125 degree programs serving more than 20,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement.  Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.