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2002
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Susan
Gundy is taken completely by surprise as she is announced
the Employee of the Year for 2002.
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Susan
Gundy is 20th UIS Employee of the Year
Susan Gundy, a network specialist in Campus Technology
Services, was named Employee of the Year for 2002 at the 20th
annual Employee of the Year Recognition Ceremony, held January
23 in the auditorium lobby.
Gundy was selected from among 10 other UIS staff and faculty
members who had been employees of the month during the past
year. She was employee of the month for May.
Ed Wojcicki, associate chancellor for constituent
relations, introduced each employee of the month. Of Gundy
he noted, "When you mention Susan's name anywhere on
campus you get a positive response. She absolutely hates leaving
clients with problems unsolved.
"In the materials that nominated her for EOM in May,
someone noted that one of her strongest assets was great customer
service. She treats everyone like their concern is the most
important concern on campus."
Chancellor Richard Ringeisen, making the official
announcement and presentation, observed, "This is recognition
by your peers, and there is none more important. However,
I think UIS truly has 1,195 employees of the year every day."
Accepting the award, Gundy said, "I'm usually never
speechless, but I am now! I love working here. I love the
people. Thank you."
Gundy also serves as one of the managers of the campus'
tech support help desk. She has been employed at UIS since
March 1998.
Other employees of the month for 2002 were John Jones, building
service worker; Sandi McGill, cashier in the ticket office;
Ted Mims, associate professor of computer science; Sherry
Orme, secretary for the campus police; Barbara Jensen, director
of applied studies; Pat Jannessee, child care assistant; Debbie
Gill, administrative aide in the provost's office; Larry Griffiths,
police lieutenant; and Jackie Gillock, account technician
in the payroll office.
The UIS Employee of the Year receives gifts that include
a check for $500.
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| Jackie
Gillock, account technician, payroll office |
Jackie Gillock is December EOM
Jackie Gillock caught on to what was happening about
the time she got to the door of the Student Life Center and
wasn't sure she wanted to come in. Extremely surprised, she
covered her mouth with her hand, then laughed with her co-workers
outside in the hall. Finally, Jackie walked in with her supervisor,
payroll director Sharon Norris.
"We didn’t think we fooled her, but apparently
we did!" said Sharon.
As Sharon presented Jackie, an account technician in payroll,
with her EOM goodies, she stated, "Jackie’s my right
hand, I just love her. She is a very hardworking staffer."
Turning to Jackie, Sharon added, "I am so proud of
you and so happy for you."
"Now, you’ve got me twice!” exclaimed Jackie.
"They (her co-workers) surprised me with a bridal shower
earlier in the year, now they’ve done this!"
"I’ve been here a little over six years. I love
my job. I love working here. I work with a great group of
people," said Jackie.
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| Larry
Griffiths, UIS police lieutenant |
Larry Griffiths is November EOM
Larry Griffiths thought he was on his way to a dreaded
budget meeting when he entered the PAC restaurant to a round
of applause. Larry looked a bit quizzical as he headed to
the line of UIS policemen and was waved back to the front
of the room.
"I'm speechless!" stammered a stunned Larry, as
the truth began to sink in. The chancellor's office had even
typed a fake memo and sent it to Larry, to keep him from suspecting
anything.
Police Chief Don Mitchell smiled and stated, "Larry
is my right-hand man. I couldn't do it without him. I really
appreciate all that he does on the job."
"I really like working here," responded Larry,
adding, "I really like working for the chief and in this
department. I just can't believe this."
Among the crowd present to congratulate Larry were his father,
Larry; mother, Sharon; and brother, Jamey.
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| Debbie
Gill, administrative aid, Provost's Office |
Debbie Gill is October EOM
"This isn't right!" exclaimed Debbie Gill,
as she stepped into the PAC restaurant for her Employee of
the Month party October 17. The usual element of surprise
was a little lacking because someone had emailed congratulations
to Debbie the day before.
"The hard part," said Michael Cheney, provost
and vice chancellor of academic affairs, "was devising
a plan to get Debbie out of the office. She rarely leaves!"
After the rest of the staff had cleared out, Michael called
Debbie to request a stack of documents that he "conveniently"
left behind. There wasn't anyone else to bring them down,
so Debbie complied.
"I can say it's much better not to know," laughed
Debbie. "I'm not very good at public speaking, but I
want to say that I appreciate the recognition. I'd like to
thank everyone. I like working here. Twenty-one years shows
that!"
Debbie's husband, Norman; mother, Marilyn; great-aunt, Donna;
daughter, Michelle, and Michelle's boyfriend, Sean, were also
on hand to help Debbie celebrate.
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| Pat
Jannessee, child care assistant |
Pat Jannessee was heralded as September's EOM.
Pat Jannessee, child care assistant at the Cox Children's
Center, was surprised as she returned from the library to
find that, in her absence, her co-workers had set up a party
for her.
On Fridays, the preschool teachers have planning time away
from the building. To get Pat out of the way for decorating
purposes, some of the other teachers took her to the library
until Racquel Hamm, center director, could arrive.
Racquel and Pat checked out some CDs for the preschool music
class and headed back to the center.
Smiling as she returned with Pat, Racquel stated, "Pat
comes in and has a very cheerful and happy attitude about
her work. She is friendly, caring, and helpful with the children
and their families."
Pat has worked at Cox for four years and currently works
with children ages three through five years in the preschool
unit. Pat's gifts extend beyond her love of children to music.
She leads a music class in the preschool unit and teaches
the children songs, tonal patterns, and rhythms.
"The children love going to music class every day,"
stated Racquel.
"I feel so honored to be picked as employee of the month,"
said Pat. "It 's nice to be recognized by the campus
community."
Pat's brother and two aunts were present at the party.
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| Barbara
Jensen, director of the Applied Study Program. |
AST director Barb Jensen is August EOM
"Somebody told me lots of lies!" exclaimed Barbara
Jensen, as she eyed the friends who had escorted her into
the UIS Student Center, where dozens of colleagues applauded.
"You guys are really good, it's amazing," said
Jensen with a laugh, clearly surprised by the reception honoring
her as the August Employee of the Month.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences dean Bill Bloemer
told the long-time UIS employee and director of the Applied
Study program that she was certainly deserving of the award.
"AST was one of the bright ideas of our founders that
actually stood the test of time," said Bloemer, smiling.
"You do a great job running a large and complex operation
that provides a tremendous service to students."
Jensen's husband, retired UIS astronomy professor Charlie
Schweighauser, was on hand to celebrate the honor with
her.
"I've had wonderful support for this program from the
dean and am proud of what we've been able to do," said
Jensen. "The university is a wonderful community. I've
enjoyed every minute here."
"With rare exceptions," she added with laugh.
Sherry Orme is July EOM
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| Sherry
Orme, secretary IV, Campus Police |
One of Sherry Orme's many duties as secretary in the
Campus Police Department is to act as "keeper of the
keys," so when someone reported a problem with the door
to the PAC restaurant, she had to go see what was wrong.
The door turned out to be just fine, but Sherry herself didn't
look too good when the crowd waiting to honor her as July
Employee of the Month started to applaud when she entered
the restaurant. "You're kidding!" she exclaimed
to Don Mitchell, UIS chief of police, as he followed
her in. "I can't believe this!
"This is wonderful," an obviously surprised Sherry
managed to say. "I've always enjoyed working here...especially
now!" Then she added, "I've been thinking about
maybe retiring this year. If I don't, you'll know why."
Congratulating Sherry and making the official presentation,
Mitchell observed, "Sherry's earned this. She should
have had it a long time ago. She is truly an ambassador for
the university. She bends over backward to help people and
is always willing to go that extra mile. Anybody who's ever
had dealings with her will agree with me."
Sherry is coming up on her 27th year as a UIS employee. She
began in 1975 as secretary to assistant VPAA Richard Sames,
then transferred to Continuing Education where she worked
for Carole Kennerly. She has been with the Campus Police
since 1982. Of her current position she says, "I love
it here. Don is a wonderful person to work for, and I couldn't
ask for better coworkers than Connie (Young), the officers,
and the dispatchers."
Several of Sherry's family members joined in the celebration.
They were her oldest son, David, his wife, Linda, and their
daughter Madison (10); her second son, Michael; and her youngest
son, Trevor's wife, Keri, and their son Caleb (12 months).
Trevor himself and David and Linda's daughter Taylor (12)
were unable to attend.
Ted Mims is June EOM
Ted Mims, associate professor of Computer Science,
tried to blend into the wall when he entered the PAC atrium
with Mary Sheila Tracy and Bill Bloemer amid
loud applause.
Ted was absolutely speechless, but as he followed Bill to
the center of the atrium he managed the soft-spoken southern
drawl statement, "I've been lied to . . . !"
"All of these people are gathered here to beg you not
to tell any more Boudreaux jokes," quipped Bill, dean
of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as he announced
Ted as the June Employee of the Month and self-proclaimed
morale officer. "But what I really want to know is why
did it take so long for this (EOM selection) to happen? Ted
works tirelessly as chair of the Computer Science Department,
constantly hiring part-time faculty, juggling schedules, advising
student athletes, teaching and coordinating CISCO Academy,
and working with Lincoln Land Community College to offer classes
online, among other projects."
Still wearing a look of genuine surprise and modesty, Ted
said, "I have a love and concern in my heart for this
place. This has shocked me! I thought I knew everything .
. . but I didn't know this. Thank you."
Susan Gundy is May EOM
Susan Gundy, network specialist in Technology Support
and one of the managers of the tech support help desk, had
to be pushed/pulled in to the PAC atrium on May 8 once she
realized that she was the only one there expecting a budget
meeting. Susan had been chosen Employee of the Month for May.
Colleague Janis Santini finally coaxed her in and Todd
Rotroff, another manager at the help desk, began the official
presentation.
Todd noted that when a similar ploy had been used to lure
him to his own EOM party several years ago, he was certain
he was going to be fired. "That's after the party,"
he teased Susan as he presented her with the EOM goodies.
Susan, who has worked at UIS since 1998, was obviously very
surprised at the honor, but managed a gracious response. "I
love working here," she said. "I love the people.
It's been a wonderful experience for me. I can't believe this
. . . I wish someone had warned me so I could have dressed
up!"
Sandi McGill is March EOM
Sandy McGill, cashier III in the Ticket Office, was
a bit confused when the curtains on the auditorium stage opened
up and applause broke out among the people gathered there.
She was more than surprised when she realized they were congratulating
her as the March Employee of the Month.
John Dale Kennedy, director of Sangamon Auditorium,
called Sandy "our secret weapon" as he described
how much she is appreciated. "She is always there, 'that
voice' in the Ticket Office, and you've probably bought tickets
from 'that voice.'"
As John passed along the perks, Sandy laughed and said, "Oh,
good, tickets I hope!"
Tom Hancock, events administrator in the Ticket Office,
called Sandy "the mother of the Ticket Office" and
spoke of his appreciation for her always keeping them on track.
Sandy was very humble in accepting the honor. She insisted
that "everyone in the Ticket Office deserves the credit."
Sandy was also surrounded by family as her husband, Rick;
son, Scott; mother-in-law, Marty Whitaker-McGill; and
brother-in-law, Jamie McGill, all showed up to congratulate
her.
John Jones is February EOM
John Jones, building service worker III and very obviously
beloved, was stunned by the huge turnout to see him honored
as the February Employee of the Month. John was in total disbelief
as Jamie McGill continued to push him into the room
until it "sunk in" that the event was for him.
"I saw the camera when I came in and tried to get out
of the way!" exclaimed John.
Carolyn Quintanilla, assistant director of Physical
Planning and Operations, presented John with the various amenities
of EOM.
"John is an excellent employee. Everyone in his building
loves him, as you can see! He works hard and this is well-deserved,"
stated Carolyn.
"I appreciate this. Thank you very much," said
John.
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