FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 13, 2011
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
aperkins@pa.muw.edu

MUW and Sodexo employees recognized at staff appreciation luncheon

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women and Sodexo handed out Staff Member of the Year awards at the annual Staff Recognition Luncheon and Meeting recently held on campus.

Michael Richardson, computer programmer/system analyst, was recognized as MUW’s Staff Member of the Year. Sodexo employees Annie Evans, who works in dining services, and Bill Samaras, who works with grounds, were named Co-Employees of the Year.

Richardson has been employed at MUW since 1994 where he started in the registrar’s office. Four years later, he joined instructional technology services.

An employee nomination stated, “Michael was our only salvation when it came to the recent conversion from WebCT to Blackboard! He was the only person on the MUW campus who could assist us. This was a new experience for everyone and he spent hours upon hours helping our faculty download and transfer content from WebCT to Blackboard.

“If he did not know how to do something on the first try, he would research and make attempts to help…there was one issue after another as the MUW version of Blackboard would not be compatible to the download version, but he would figure it out and make it work. Michael is the sole reason our totally online curriculum was able to make the transition to Blackboard.”

Richardson said, "Even though I have received almost all of the credit for our conversion to Blackboard, there were several people assisting me behind the scenes.  In reality it was a group effort.  I am very appreciative of the recognition and the support that I have received from the MUW family."

Evans works in The Goose and has worked with food services for 10 years.

“She has flipped many burgers and grilled many chickens, said Roger Busby, dining services general manager, who noted Evans was out due to the flu.

Chris Harding, landscape operations manager, used the alphabet to describe the many positive characteristics of Samaras, stating A--he is always on time and H for being helpful and hardworking. “S because he smiles all the time and has a servant heart,” he added.

Samaras said, “I came here a little over three years ago and have never been accepted as much as I have been here.”

MUW service pins also were presented during the luncheon.

Recipients of five-year pins were Dr. Phillip “Flapp” Cockrell, James Harmon, Lois Harvey, Karen McAdoo, Judith Nicole Patrick and Vernell Taylor.

Ten-year pins went to Susan Lollar, Nora Miller Andrea Stevens, Margaret Wilkerson and Tiffany Winter.

Receiving 15-year pins were Cheryl Brown, Carole Dobbins, Dr. Barbara Moore, Jill D. O’Bryant, Mary Margaret Roberts and Roderick Whitfield.

Maxine Hinton received a 25-year pin.

Sodexo also recognized employees for their service.

Sharon Edwards, Regina Ferguson, Curtis Stewart, Annie Tate and Gerie Yeatman were noted for five years. Brenda Martin was recognized for 10 years.

Fifteen-year employees included Jeff Clark, Hattie Jackson and Ricky Patmon.