The Gloria and Van Quaal Outstanding Quality Service Award was established in 1997 through an endowment with the Geneseo Foundation in honor of the Quaals' many years of devoted service to the College and Geneseo Community.  The award recognizes an individual in the Division of the Administration and Finance who has had a consistently high level of performance during his/her career, has had a recognizable and meaningful impact at the College, and who serves as a role model to others.  The recipient receives a certificate and a check for $1,000.  At this time, I would like to recognize the past recipients:  Joan Bush, Lenwood Rider, Diane Cuozzo, Sam Maggio, Kevin Callan, Mary Ellen Siraguse, Jackie Love, David Swales, Bruce Bennett, and Linda Erwin. 

            A Committee of five people from the College and the community review and evaluate the nominations.  Members of the Committee are:

            Kirk Spangler, Assistant Director of Facilities Services

            Julie Briggs, Assistant VP of Human Resources

            Ginny Geer-Mentry, CAS

            Lenny Sancilio, Dean of Students

            Victor Van Vliet, Owner, Special Tees

            This year our call for nominations elicited nine nominations.  The nominations and endorsements came from nearly every Division of the College; endorsements came from our secretarial, trades, custodial, faculty, retirees, and even from outside of the College.  The committee noted that they were particularly pleased with the number of endorsements nominees received.  In fact, one nomination received 7 endorsements and another received 9.

            This year's recipient has worked at the College since 1993 and has been in her current position for the past 12 years.  She is described repeatedly in her nomination and endorsements as "always friendly", "easy-going", "dedicated", "pleasant" and a "role model".  One endorsement reads "she always helps me find answers to questions and resolutions to problems where she can.  It is also a pleasure to work with her as she has a smile and is pleasant every time I talk to her."  Another writes "she doesn't make you feel like you're an interruption.  I've never heard her complain about anything in all the years I've worked with her.  She's informative; and just helps you solve things." And "Even if she doesn't get this award, to those of us who work with her, she's a jewel.  We will continue to rely on her steadfastness in helping (us) handle our every day ‘crises' with patience and a smile!"  (She) "is a very caring person; she listens, is willing to go the extra mile.  She exhibits a very positive outlook on things which I find carries over to others.  Personally, I have learned from (her) to look on the bright side.  I have a great deal of respect for her in the way she handles her job and life in general."

            "Her dedication is a reflection on the Office and the College".  In recognition of her efforts, her service, and the impact on her coworkers and the College, then, I am pleased to award the 2008 Gloria and Van Quaal award to a woman who has been at Geneseo for 15 years, and, as you have heard, clearly exemplifies the standards of the award, Marjorie E. Cox, Secretary I in the Facilities Planning & Construction Office.  As the committee stated in their recommendation, "Given the fact that Marge received 10 well-written endorsements and has been nominated 3 times in the past, the Committee unanimously selected her as the 2008 recipient of this prestigious award.  Most impressive is the fact that endorsements were submitted from offices within the Division and those in other divisions as well as from individuals from the State University Construction Fund, The Dormitory Authority, and architects and project managers.

Others nominated for the award this year are:

                Felica "Joan" Book, Electrician, Facilities Services/Maintenance

                Claudia Forrester, Supervising Janitor, Facilities Services/Custodial

                Timothy Freas, General Mechanic, Facilities Services/Maintenance

                Deborah Lambert, Secretary I, Student Accounts

                John Nickerson, General Mechanic, Facilities Services/Heating Plant

                Dana Passamonte, Maintenance Assistant, Facilities Services/Maintenance

                Steven Schunk, Plant Utilities Engineer 1, Facilities Services/Heating Plant

                Chris Shute, Secretary I, Human Resources

                Deborah Wakefield, Supervising Janitor, Facilities Services/Custodial