Contact: George Mauzy, Media Specialist, (740) 597-1794
Editors: Photos of the winners can be found at: www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/ADKINS_CHARLIE.JPG
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www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/HACKER_ANDREA.JPG
www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/MAUTZ_BILLIE.JPG
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ATHENS, Ohio (February 13, 2001) -- Hard work paid off for six Ohio University employees on Friday. The individuals were honored at Ohio University's 2000 Outstanding Classified Employee Awards at Baker University Center.
They are Charlie Adkins, a mason in Facilities Management's carpentry shop; Debra DePeel, senior secretary for the School of Journalism; Andrea Hacker, account clerk specialist for the College of Osteopathic Medicine; Billie Mautz, secretary for the academic division coordinator at the Zanesville campus; Connie Pollard, senior secretary in the School of Recreation and Sport Sciences; and Ralph Smith, a custodial worker in Irvine Hall.
University President Robert Glidden presented each recipient with a $500 check and a framed certificate during a Feb. 9 ceremony honoring the employees. University Human Resources sponsors the 15-year-old awards program, which was created to recognize distinguished service among classified employees. Eligible employees may be nominated by students, faculty or staff and must be full- or part-time permanent civil service or bargaining unit employees with a minimum of five consecutive years of service.
Adkins, an employee at the University since 1978, was first elected in 1986 as president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1699. An Athens native, he was re-elected to another term last fall. Adkins has been instrumental in the development of a new era in labor relations and has participated in union contract negotiations since 1988. His strengths are analyzing complex problems and quickly focusing on core issues. As a mason, he has left his signature of perfection on many of brick walkways and other projects on campus.
"I am honored to receive this great award and really enjoy working at Ohio University," Adkins said.
Described by co-workers as the "heart and soul" of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, DePeel has been a secretary with the school for 23 years. She handles budget and financial transactions, internship and placement information, travel reimbursements and minutes of faculty meetings; provides clerical assistance to faculty; and oversees student assistants. The Athens native creates and publishes the school's job notice newsletter, Opportunity Knocks.
"I really appreciate the people I work with. They make me feel special and appreciated every day," DePeel said.
Hacker, an Albany, Ohio, native, has worked for Ohio University for 31 years and excels at customer service. She is known by her College of Osteopathic Medicine peers to be an invaluable source of knowledge. Her duties include handling budget and expense documents and she helped the college move from a manual system of accounting to a computerized system. During the transition process, she maintained quality accounting for the department.
"There are so many other hard workers at this university," Hacker said. "I realize how great an honor it is to receive this award."
Mautz, originally from Santa Rosa, Calif., is described as a "perceptive, highly intelligent and well-organized" person who performs her duties with "cheer and good humor." An employee of the Zanesville Campus since 1989, she has considerable computer skills and takes pride in her speed and accuracy as a typist. Travel budgets, personnel contracts and classroom scheduling are a few of her responsibilities. Her colleagues say she meets "impossible" deadlines because she is efficient and quick. Mautz is seen as a creative worker who satisfies the diverse needs of the campus' faculty.
"Winning this award makes me feel good, because it shows that I am appreciated," Mautz said.
A 10-year employee of Ohio University, Pollard has served as senior secretary in the School of Recreation and Sport Sciences for one year. Her colleagues and supervisors say they are impressed with her organizational and people skills and her "cool-under-pressure" attitude. In her current position, she serves as a mentor and guide to student employees, an assistant to administrators and faculty and a leader on staff development and workplace issues. A native of McArthur, Ohio, she also coordinates course scheduling and monitors the department's budget.
"I was thrilled to receive this award," Pollard said. "It's very gratifying to be honored for your work and it's also nice to receive the money."
Smith has worked for the university since 1988, and colleagues say he consistently performs his custodial services at an exceptionally high level. His pride and motivation to do an excellent job are readily apparent, they note. Smith, a Reedsville, Ohio, native, serves as an unofficial security officer for Irvine Hall, keeping tabs on people entering and exiting the laboratory areas. His alertness and quick response recently saved Irvine Hall from severe fire damage.
"I was shocked when I won," Smith said. "I just want to thank everyone I work with and give special thanks to the people who nominated me for this award."
"This award is for workers who give 110 percent every day, and selecting only six winners is tough," said John Dillon II, who served on the award's screening committee. In a typical year, 50 to 100 employees are nominated for the awards.
