Staff Receive Yellow Jacket Awards

President Lindgren, Vice President for College Advancement Diane Lowder, Laura Doherty

Yellow Jacket Awards

President Lindgren, Sr. Associate Dean of Students Kathryn Hull, Carol Bailey

President Lindgren, Provost William Franz, Janice Cooper

President Lindgren, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid David Lesesne, Charter Lindley

President Lindgren, David Graves, Vice President of Administration and Finance Paul Davies

President Lindgren, Brenda Davis, Paul Davies

10/17/12

The second Yellow Jacket Awards Ceremony took place on October 16, 2012 in Blackwell Auditorium, R-MC Center for the Performing Arts.

Yellow Jacket Awards are given to staff who demonstrate excellence in one of three categories: Excellence in Service, Excellence as a Team Member, and Excellence Behind the Scenes. Each award recipient receives a certificate and a cash award.

President Robert R. Lindgren presented the awards. Just before the ceremony, staff enjoyed breakfast on the patio in front of Blackwell Auditorium.

“I am delighted that the Yellow Jacket Awards have been created to recognize staff members who have been identified by their co-workers as exceptional employees, and I am honored to award this fall’s Yellow Jacket Awards for extraordinary service,” said Lindgren as he welcomed staff and guests to the ceremony. The following remarks are excerpts from Lindgren's comments that he shared as he presented each award.

The Excellence in Service Award is given to an employee who provides excellent service to students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni, or visitors.

Laura Doherty (advancement & athletics)

“Laura joined the R-MC community in 2007 as director of annual giving and since then has held positions as executive director of development and most recently as the director of athletic development,” said Lindgren. “In many ways Laura embodies the one quality we value most— the willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to enhance the experience for students. Laura’s ability to foster relationships and raise needed funds is exceptional. In her current role she successfully raised money for the Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park, the new Day Field and more than $1.5 million for athletic department operations. Regardless of whether she is raising money for athletics, scholarships, capital projects or the annual fund, she consistently goes above and beyond to make sure that the college is successful.”

Carol Bailey (residence life and housing)

“Carol has been with the college for nine years, and in so many ways she is the model employee because of her talent, compassion and extraordinary work ethic,” said Lindgren. “Carol spends many hours on campus; when she is not working with parents on roommate issues, disability requests or meal plan needs, she is talking with students about their homesickness, loss of a parent or fear of being in college. Carol averages 20 parent phone calls a week. She will also meet with more than 30 students in a week. Sometimes it is just to help direct them to the right office; other times it is to listen to them and be a caring shoulder. And Carol also helps out another office on campus by working as a communication officer in Campus Safety.”

Janice Cooper (registrar’s office)

“In the 10-plus years that Janice has been a member of the R-MC community, she has dedicated herself tirelessly to the college’s mission with her support to our students, faculty and staff,” said Lindgren. “In a word, Janice is committed to our student population. Her concern for their welfare is genuine, and she diligently works to problem-solve on their behalf. Janice’s responsibilities are designed to support faculty in their daily academic lives. She does so with an admirable positivity and is often everyone’s favorite person to work with.”

The Excellence as a Team Member Award is bestowed on an employee who exhibits outstanding teamwork and cooperation, both in his/her own department and with others.

Charter Lindley (admissions)

“Charter Lindley is an outstanding member of our admissions team,” said Lindgren. “As our scholarship coordinator, Charter has to work with multiple constituencies. She also has to coordinate the activities of the entire admissions staff for the three major scholarship interview days. All of this requires a high degree of teamwork and cooperation for the programs to be successful, and anyone who has worked with Charter will attest that she does a fantastic job of working with others, communicating with them and thanking them for their service. Charter is a bright light in the chandelier we call the admissions office and at the college.”

The Excellence Behind the Scenes Award is bestowed on a staff member who provides excellent service behind the scenes, showing initiative and drive, and making Randolph-Macon a better place for work and study.

David Graves (physical plant)

“David has worked at Randolph-Macon for 25 years and from day one has received compliments about the quality of his work and the improvements to our campus grounds,” said Lindgren. “David is the guiding force behind the scenes, often working nights and weekends beautifying the campus so that students, faculty and staff, alumni and visitors alike can take pride in a campus that values it appearance. He is well versed in all areas of residential, commercial and agricultural techniques and is very talented at blending these skills to best suit landscaping and turf management at the college.”

Brenda Davis (ITS)

“Brenda Davis has been a valuable team member within ITS during her five years here and is always available to assist with any issue or project that arises,” said Lindgren. “Brenda’s outstanding customer service applies to all faculty, staff and students. She makes a point of responding to users’ needs immediately and will do whatever is needed to assure that the issue is resolved. ITS and Randolph-Macon are very fortunate to have such a wonderfully dedicated employee.”