Spring-Summer 2005 -  Volume 11 -  Number 1

Star Award and Student Awards

Every spring the UTA Libraries staff hold an award reception to recognize staff and student employees who have gone above and beyond their job descriptions in the work they do. This spring the STAR (Super Talent Appreciated and Recognized) award, funded by the Friends of the UTA Libraries, was presented to Information Literacy librarian Mary Jo Lyons.

Dorothy Rencurrel presented the Friends of the Libraries STAR award to Mary Jo Lyons at the spring staff reception.

Gerald Saxon, Dean of Libraries, offered the following remarks at the presentation: You have made your mark on the libraries with your professional conduct, your drive to promote the Libraries, and your unmatched ability to bring out the best in your staff.

Around the UTA campus, you are noted for your involvement with the Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) and Residential Learning Communities (RLCs). You serve as Chair for the Co-Curricular Programming Workshop. This workshop organizes service learning opportunities and co-curricular activities for the FIG and RLC students in KC Hall. For example; you directed the Penny Warz activity in the hall which collected $350 for the Arlington Night Shelter. You also arranged a “Fireside Chat” with President Spaniolo for FIG students.

Other programs Lyons has been closely involved with include Maverick Orientation, Advising and Registration (MOAR), Welcome Days (held at the beginning of the fall semester), and Arlington Reads. Saxon concluded his remarks with

Mary Jo, you empower your staff to make and execute independent decisions while unobtrusively following up with accountability and other status reports. You have created an infectious sense of independence and a drive towards excellence that has made all of your staff shine”. Your adaptability, enthusiasm, and performance are models for us all and certainly put you in the “star” category. Congratulations!

Kiran Bondalakunta (right) was a winner of the Outstanding Student Assistant Award.

Danny Word (right) was a winner of the Outstanding Student Assistant Award.

The Outstanding Student Assistant awards are given to two students who excel in their jobs even with their busy schedules as students. This year there were two student awards. One was presented to Kiran Bondalakunta, who has been there [at the circulation desk] to take on new duties, help when his shift was short staffed and has worked past his shift when needed, and has worked the unpopular closing shift. Danny Word received the second award, in acknowledgement of his “significant contributions in the GIS digitization project and development of innovative GIS workshop topics.”