|
|
Columns::May 19, 2003
Budget includes funds for three key university projects
Research professor is named Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
CCRC expansion is expected to boost local economy by more than $14 million
Commencement 2003: A time of tears (and cheers)
Retirees
Campus News
 |
| The Staff Award for Excellence in the College of Education this year went to Kate Character (center). Elizabeth Platt (left) was first runner-up and Freida Thornton (right) was second runner-up. |
Good job: Employee efforts recognized
Certification official receives College of Education staff award
By Angela Shih
angelai@uga.edu
Kate Character, certification official in student services, has received the College of Education’s 2003 Staff Award for Excellence.
Character received a plaque and $1,200 in ceremonies May 2 at River’s Crossing. The first runner-up, Elizabeth Platt, office manager in mathematics education, was awarded $750, and second runner-up, Freida Thornton, partnership liaison in elementary education, received $300.
Faculty and staff members describe Character as hard working, compassionate, organized and professional.
“Her diligent work assures that a student’s hard work is actually rewarded by graduation,” wrote one faculty member. “She maintains the [degree audit report] entries for the student, she helps students deal with transfer courses that do not automatically place in a core area, and she corrects mistakes whenever she can--she does everything in her power to help a student through the administrative web.”
Character was said to be indispensable during the transition from quarters to semesters a few years ago, researching mistakes in records and working with DARS programmers to get the students in the college back on track.
“If Kate doesn’t know the answer, she’ll find it for you,” said one staff member.
Several staff members were also recognized for years of service to the college. They included Martha Williams, 30 years; Shirley Anderson, 15 years; Jennifer Guyton and DeAnna Palmer, five years.
Degree program specialist wins FACS’s Nettie Nickols Award
By Denise H. Horton
dhorton@uga.edu
Diane Wood, a 22-year employee of the student services office in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, has been
 |
| Diane Wood (left) was nominated by Jan Hathcote (right), an associate dean in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. |
named this year’s recipient of the Nettie Marie Nickols Outstanding Staff Performance Award.
As a degree program specialist, Wood is responsible for verifying student records, certifying graduation requirements, scheduling courses, processing course overrides and access to classes, and maintaining the student database.
“These responsibilities require confidentiality, creativity and sensitivity,” says Jan Hathcote, associate dean for academic affairs and research, who nominated Wood for the award. “Diane anticipates problems and offers solutions for faculty striving to reach positive outcomes for all parties. While the work is very focused and detailed, she reaches out to students, staff and faculty in her friendly manner.”
Wood created both a student database and one for FACS alumni. In addition, she is known throughout the college for her proofreading skills, according to her colleague Connie Rash, assistant director for student services.
“Many offices in the college, from the dean’s office to the external relations office, call upon her to proofread important documents,” says Rash. “She has saved the college many times by finding errors before they end up in print. This has widened her influence in the college, making her a respected and valuable employee.”
The Nickols Award emphasizes community participation. Wood has worked with older members at her church, participated in fundraising for a new church building, and helped at the schools her two grandchildren attend. |
|
|
|
|
