First Winners of Ithaca College Choice Awards Named

Ithaca College initiated a new campus-wide program this year to recognize employees making significant contributions to the College community - the Ithaca College Choice Award program.

"There are many staff members who go above and beyond the call of duty to enrich the quality of life at Ithaca College," says President Peggy R. Williams. "The Choice Award program has been developed to recognize that initiative and to establish a system for rewarding distinguished and innovative service that is separate from the annual review process."

More than 70 individuals/groups were nominated for the inaugural Ithaca Choice Awards. Individual winners received $1,000. Members of the award-winning groups each received $250.

All staff members are eligible to receive Ithaca Choice Awards. An employee can be self-nominated or nominated by a supervisor, a coworker, a colleague, or a student. Nominees must show accomplishment in at least one of the areas listed below.

o Initiative — This criterion is used to recognize individual creativity in proposing new or improved work methods, ideas, projects, or approaches that contribute positively to individual or department results.

o Commitment — This criterion is intended to reward individuals who have demonstrated commitment to their department and the College by regularly making a full and positive contribution for a number of years.

o Support — This criterion recognizes individuals who give their talents and efforts in support of others in an extraordinary way.

o Accomplishment — This criterion recognizes individuals who create and/or produce a substantive project or program for a department of the College.

Kudos and congratulations go out to this year's recipients:

• Mary Bennett, Department of Health Promotion and Human Movement
• Mark Darling, Auxiliary Services
• Becky Jordan, School of Music
• Kathy Lucas, School of Humanities and Sciences
• Brian McAree, Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life
• Robert McClements, Facilities Services
• Cindy Reckdenwald, Office of Human Resources
• Mary Scheidegger, Department of Theatre Arts
• Maura Stephens, Office of College Relations
• Mark Warfle, Auxiliary Services

• Compensation Advisory Committee
• Jim Brill, Building Maintenance
• Colleen Brink, Office of Development
• Tom Dunn, Office of Campus Safety
• Nancy Gould, Payroll Office
• Betty Hagin, Roy H. Park School of Communications
• Bonnie Prunty, Office of Residential Life
• John Robertson, Auxiliary Services
• Michael Taves, Academic Computing and Client Services
• Gerard Turbide, Office of Admission
• Lilly Westbrook, Department of Theatre Arts
• Faculty Reappointment Paperwork Processing Group
• Jessica Best, Office of the Budget
• Bonnie Griffin, Human Resources Information
• Hana Holman, Human Resources Information
• Karen Johnson, School of Humanities and Sciences
• Matt Lewkowicz, Human Resources Information
• Claire Powers, Office of Institutional Research
• Peggy Termina, Office of the Provost

"The Ithaca College community is appreciative of the many special contributions that this year's recipients have made - individually and collectively," President Williams says.