Dr. Joe Beaman announces Dana Judson as the winner of the 2009 Staff Excellence Award
The Mechanical engineering department recently awarded the Staff Excellence Award to one well-deserving staff member. Dana Judson received the award in a ceremony held on 18 February 2009. Dana is the sole Administrative Associate for the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Lab (NETL) in the J.J. Pickle Research Campus.
Donna O'Kelly nominated Dana Judson for the Staff Excellence Award
Dana was nominated by Dr. Donna O'Kelly, a Laboratory Manager for the NETL. In her recommendation letter, Donna listed over two dozen tasks that Dana performs, noting that she "performs many of these tasks on a daily basis and does so … efficiently, effectively, and with seamless effort." Donna particularly noted the hard work Dana performed during an international workshop last year. Her efforts were essential in keeping the needs of visitors met throughout the conference and she made a lasting impression on all involved.
Dana also deals with all the customers and vendors for NETL. One of the recommendation letters came from one such vendor, who provides bookbinding services for the lab. Of Dana, he said, "No one at any of the institutions that I deal with is more competent or more on top of things than Dana Judson." He also spoke of her as one who "takes on more than she is really obligated to."
Peggy Berry, Don Artieschoufsky, Cengiz Vural and Carlos Hidrovo in attendance at the Staff Excellence Awards
In his nomination letter, Dr. Sheldon Landsberger, program coordinator for the Nuclear and Radiation Engineering area, described Dana as "the very best administrative associate [he has] ever worked with in [his] 11 years at the University of Texas or [his] previous 10 years at the University of Illinois." In addition to the recommendations named herein, several other individuals wrote letters to recommend Dana for this award, all of whom were grateful for her tireless efforts in supporting the faculty, staff, and students at NETL.
In honor of her service, she has received a letter of acknowledgment from the Department Chair, a Mechanical Engineering Departmental plaque, a Mechanical Engineering Departmental Paperweight, a check for $500, and nomination to both the University-wide and College-wide staff awards.
