The 10th Randolph-Macon College Yellow Jacket Awards ceremony took place October 19, 2016 in Blackwell Auditorium, RMC Center for the Performing Arts.

Photos: Yellow Jacket Awards

Yellow Jacket Awards are given to staff who demonstrate distinction in one of four categories: Excellence in Service, Excellence as a Team Member, Excellence Behind the Scenes, and Excellence as a Manager. Each award recipient receives a certificate and a cash award. Diane Lowder, vice president for college advancement, welcomed staff to the awards ceremony.

“I know that you work extra hard, day in and day out, often past normal work hours and always with a sense of pride in what you do,” she said. “That is why our campus is beautiful, our residence halls and classroom buildings are clean, and our offices and technologies and processes are operating with remarkable efficiency. Our successes are due in large part to your extraordinary talent and even more extraordinary dedication. Thank you.”

Lowder, along with Grant Azdell (vice president for student affairs and dean of students), David Lesesne (vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid) and Paul Davies (vice president of administration and finance), presented the awards.

The Excellence Behind the Scenes award is given to 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. Two staff members were presented this award.

Sabrina Granderson (president’s office)
“Receiving nominations from several faculty members and her colleagues in the President’s Office, Sabrina is being recognized for her unparalleled dedication to the college,” said Azdell. “Sabrina’s job description may as well start with the phrase ‘other duties as assigned’ because her work is unpredictable and usually served up with very little warning. Sabrina handles anything that is given to her in the same professional and calm manner and with an attention to detail that is profoundly accurate. Faculty members have grown to count on her for her speed and efficiency as she balances her work responsibilities between the President’s Office and the Provost’s Office. Most community members do not even know that a document, program, e-mail or project is actually due to the fine work or editing skill of Sabrina. Her positive attitude is very much appreciated by her co-workers, and by guests, faculty, visitors, parents and other staff. One nominator noted: ‘Sabrina is flexible in handling last-minute and time-sensitive situations. She is an excellent communicator and this, coupled with her attention to details, makes her a valuable staff member and colleague.'”

Diane Colquitt (ITS)
“Diane is a systems analyst in ITS and began her career in 2014,” said Davies. “She is a valued employee, a diligent worker who has established herself as a go-to person for taking many technical initiatives to improve our systems and applications used at the college. Diane directly supports the college’s Event Management System, Medicat (used by the Student Health Services and Counseling Services), BuzzNet (the college’s intranet), and Jenzabar systems. Her work in modernizing the MyMaconWeb student portal this past year helped create a smoother, more automated orientation process for incoming freshmen. More recently, she took the lead on the Pharos360 project, in support of retention efforts. Her problem-solving skills, combined with her initiative and drive to succeed, have led to innovative solutions to help the community. Her efforts have contributed to efficiencies and productivity campus-wide. On any given day, someone on campus is using a system on which Diane has worked or is working to improve. Diane embodies the spirit of the Excellence Behind the Scenes award. Her accomplishments and ingenuity show her passion for our students and the college.”

The Excellence as a Team Member award is given to an employee who exhibits outstanding teamwork and cooperation, both in his/her own department and with others. Four staff members were presented this award.

Anthony “Tony” Boiteau (physical plant)
“Tony is an extremely skilled plumber and is well-versed in installation, repair, and maintenance of potable and sanitary water systems in residential, commercial, academic, and industrial applications,” said Davies. “Tony is also certified to install, maintain, and repair natural gas systems. He is a primary player in operations and maintenance of the central heating plant for the majority of the college campus and is skilled at working on heating oil systems. Tony works regularly with the various air conditioning and heating contractors on campus. Tony is known as an easygoing and friendly guy who has no problem assisting in areas outside of his primary assigned duties. He often responds to plumbing issues and emergencies after normal working hours and on weekends and holidays. He is well-respected by his co-workers in Physical Plant, faculty and staff in other departments, and by students and guests. Tony is always willing to go the extra mile. Tony, we are grateful for your efforts for all of us at the college.”

Scarlett Dodl (library)
“Scarlett began working in the McGraw-Page Library in 2002 as a part-time library assistant,” said Azdell. “Since 2011, she has been the library’s full-time acquisitions coordinator. She has always worked efficiently and professionally across several library areas and other college offices. Scarlett was noted by one of her fellow staff as a ‘budget wizard.’ She manages an intricate operating budget, coupled with reserve funds to help provide the best possible materials for our students, faculty and staff. In addition to her daily work, Scarlett also works to highlighting faculty collections and other research interests. She uses her artistic background and talent to create posters and displays throughout the library. A nominator said of Scarlett: ‘Her long experience, talent and reliable sound judgment make her an important part of our team.’ Please join me in giving Scarlett a big round of applause.”

Robin McKinney (counseling center)
“Robin serves the college as the office assistant and receptionist in our Counseling Center,” said Azdell. “She has been a valuable member of that team for almost five years. Prior to serving in this role, Robin was the voice of the college, answering the main line and dispatching officers as a Communications Officer in Campus Safety. Robin plays a critical role for Counseling Services as the first contact most students have with that office. Her warm, friendly, welcoming and unflappable manner helps make students feel at home when they walk in the door. And as is so often the case, Robin’s caring demeanor helps to calm initial anxieties about seeking counseling. Robin is an excellent team player, both in her collegial collaboration with all of the Counseling Services staff and other offices in the college. Her knowledge of the college is also invaluable. Please help me thank Robin for her excellent work and dedication to her job and our college with a round of applause.”

Nancy Magerowski (financial aid)
“In the short time Nancy has been with us, we find that her caring and thorough nature in addressing students and parents concerns to be a plus,” said Lesesne. “She goes the extra mile; she leaves no stone unturned. Nancy is the perfect person to be a loan counselor. Her eye for detail, her thoroughness of thought and general patient nature serves the college very well. Already she has built a collegial rapport with various constituents with whom she must work: the Business Office, lenders of private loans, and the Department of Education Loan division, as well as other offices on campus. She is eager to learn, always seeking training opportunities. While her primarily program responsibility is administration of our loan program, she has a working understanding of the big picture: the impact of aid on our recruitment and retention goals. One nominator said of her: ‘Students, parents and co-workers have commented on how kind, helpful and efficient Nancy is in explaining the loan process and other aspects of the financial aid process. Her upbeat personality, energy and great sense of humor help to lighten the daily stresses of loan issues from parents and students. She is a great asset to the Financial Aid Office and the college.'”

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

Pam Gontkovic (advancement)
“For a number of years, Pam has supported Susan Donavant, Robert Patterson and me, hosting thousands of external constituents, alumni and visitors,” said Lowder. “Last year alone, the Advancement Office oversaw 107 events with over 10,000 individuals in attendance, and Pam had a hand in helping with many of these. Pam continues to successfully organize the Macon Connections networking event logistics, and works closely with the Society of Alumni and Boydton Society to make sure their meetings and reunions come off without a hitch. Pam is a valued member of the Advancement Team. She is often the first to raise her hand to offer to help when she sees other team members in need of assistance. Pam excels at communication, making sure that the Advancement Team is kept apprised of all the activities taking place in the Dalton House. But where Pam really shines is her ability to make our alumni and other visitors feel at ease when they visit campus. She is indeed a gracious and effective ambassador for the college. Pam, thank you for all you do, not only to make our events look seamless to pull off, but also to represent the college with abounding friendly, Southern Randolph-Macon hospitality. You make us all look good!”

The Excellence as a Manager award is given to a mid-level manager who provides excellence in personnel and department leadership to include employee development, innovative ideas, time management or use of college resources.

Alana Davis (registrar)
“In addition to being the one person at the college who has to fully understand our entire curriculum, Alana also manages a team of individuals who have a critical role at the college,” said Azdell. “She is extraordinarily attentive to detail, and nowhere is this more evident than in the fact that she reads every single application for degree that is submitted to the Registrar’s Office each year—hundreds of them—and certifies that the students have met our graduation requirements. Alana helps create a professional atmosphere in the office through a combination of training and support, for those who work with her. The office literally has contact with every single student during his or her academic career at RMC. Alana cultivates an office environment that is service-oriented, committed to excellence, and attentive to detail. Alana, thank you for all you do.”

Special Recognition
Also recognized at the ceremony was Nick Bruce, RMC’s mail services coordinator, who serves in the Air Force National Guard.

“Nick will be going on active duty from October 28, 2016 through March 9, 2017 and will be stationed in Guam,” announced Davies. “We thank Nick and all those employees who have loved ones serving our country so we may safer at home.” Attendees gave Bruce an enthusiastic standing ovation.