 |
| Winners of the 2009 Rosemary Gill Awards are: Carol Madden, Barb Bigelow, Pam Noseworthy and Sandy Mansfield. (Danny Abriel Photo) |
There was lots of love in the room as four AV俱乐部 staffers were honoured with the Rosemary Gill Award for their outstanding service to students.
The Rosemary Gill Award鈥攐r the 鈥渆xtra mile award鈥� in the words of AV俱乐部 president Tom Traves鈥攊s given in the name of the late director of University Health Services who personified a high level of commitment and service to students.
This year, the award went to four administrative assistants who work in various academic departments: Barb Bigelow in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Carol Madden in the School of Planning; Sandy Mansfield in the School of Biomedical Engineering; and Pam Noseworthy in the Department of Spanish.
SEE PHOTOS: Administrative assistants to the rescue
鈥淎t university, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle,鈥� said Dr. Traves at a reception last Thursday in Shirreff Hall. 鈥淭hese are the people who keep an eye out for all of our students 鈥� they play a crucial role in each of their departments acting as the lynchpin between the students and the faculty.鈥�
First up was Barb Bigelow. Called the 鈥渄en mother鈥� of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, she was hailed for her calm, level-headedness, generosity and compassion. 鈥淪he is the heartbeat of biochemistry student life,鈥� said Dr. Traves.
Deemed a 鈥渟econd mother鈥� to students in the School of Planning, Carol Madden is the first face they see when they walk into the school, part of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning. She is known for the candy she keeps well stocked in her desk, which is adorned with small mementoes from former students.
Over in the School of Biomedical Engineering, it鈥檚 Sandy Mansfield鈥檚 smile that provides聽the welcome to students, and in exchange, 鈥渢heir love for her is unmistakable,鈥� said Dr. Traves. As the school鈥檚 鈥渟uper glue,鈥� Ms. Mansfield advocates for students, coordinates pizza and sandwiches for them, and once spent her lunch hour walking to Dalplex to register a student team for intramurals. 鈥淚t鈥檚 Sandy to the rescue,鈥� he added.
Last but not least, Pam Noseworthy was singled out for providing a cheerful smile and sympathetic ear to students of Spanish. Not only does she listen to students, she studies with them: since becoming administrative secretary in the department, she started to learn the language 鈥渁nd has progressed with leaps and bounds,鈥� said Dr. Traves.
鈥淭hese four represent the best of AV俱乐部,鈥� he said in his concluding remarks. 鈥淭hey truly make this university a special place.鈥�