Stephen F. Austin State University

Forty-five Stephen F. Austin State University staff members and 18 retirees were recognized for their years of service Tuesday during a reception in the Twilight Ballroom at the University Center. Four employees received the president's award for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Glenda Herrington, director of human resources, said recognition is an integral part of maintaining employee morale and showing employees how important they are to an organization. SFA is fortunate to have good employees and a good employee retention rate, she said.

"Employee turnover is very costly to an organization," she said. "We always want to keep good employees. Employees with poor performance are not productive and contribute to poor morale for other employees." Herrington said recipients of the president's award are nominated each year based on outstanding performance of their assigned duties. Full-time employees who have been employed at SFA for at least two years are eligible.

This year's recipients included Virginia Walker, accounts payable manager; Mary Uresti, coordinator of student publications; Carole Antill, administrative assistant to the dean of liberal and applied arts; and Doreen Stockwell, stockroom supervisor in the chemistry department.

Walker's nomination letter stated that she is dedicated, loyal and has an extremely good work ethic. "Although by nature the work she does is repetitive and constant, she, with the help of her staff, accomplishes the work with very few errors," the letter stated. "In her years of service here, (her supervisor) has never once received any complaints from vendors or departmental staff."

Walker was described as "an inspiration for her staff and others in the office, and she continually strives to improve the level of service by making recommendations that would improve the accounts payable processes."

Uresti's nomination letter described different ways that her energy and professionalism have benefited student publications. She has helped to improve yearbook sales, kept national advertising revenue on track, helped students learn to deal with their clients in a professional manner, and provided a willing, sympathetic ear for students when they needed one.

"Thanks to Ms. Uresti's intelligence and good judgment, all our clerical student workers are well trained and capable of handling daily duties with confidence," the letter stated. "Mary Uresti is an example of a university employee whose work ethic, loyalty and professionalism contribute to the successful operations of the department of student publications and to the success and well-being of our students." Antill's nomination letter stated that she goes the extra mile to meet the objectives of her job.

"She is accommodating to students and faculty and almost without exception sets the needs of others before her own," her nomination letter stated. "She has on numerous occasions either delayed her lunch break or ignored normal business hours to respond to student requests."

Antill brings a positive attitude and friendly disposition to her work while helping others achieve their goals. She is an effective communicator, has a positive attitude, and the accuracy of her work reflects her precision and attention to detail, the letters said.

Stockwell's letter decribed her a "valuable, model employe for SFA who has been dedicated to her duties and responsibilities since the day she started 26 years ago."

"She gives 100 percent each and every day she reports to work," the letter stated. "She has an understanding of everything that needs to be accomplished in the stockroom and is always there to help answer questions or find the answers."

Once or twice a week Stockwell works more than eight hours, because she is responsible for the chemicals and supplies required during night labs.

"She continuously maintain a level of productivity that is far above what is expected of her," the letter stated. "When I think of her work ethics, three words come to mind: quality, dependable and trustworthy."

Herrington said it's always difficult to select the winners of the presidential awards, due to number of the candidates who meet criteria. She praised the hard work and dedication of all employees who are nominated for the award. Award recipients receive a $500 cash prize.