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August 12, 2011

Staff honored as ULM holds first Foundation Award for Excellence in Service luncheon

The University of Louisiana at Monroe held a luncheon on Thursday, Aug. 11 to kick off a new academic year and honor staff members who received the first two ULM Foundation Awards for Excellence.

The awards, which come with a cash stipend and trophy for each recipient, are made possible through the generosity of the ULM Foundation.

The Foundation Awards for Excellence are given in six major areas of recognition, including Service by Unclassified Staff and Service by Classified Staff, given to those staff members who exemplify excellence and dedication to their community and campus.

Faculty Awards for Creative/Artistic Activity, Teaching, Research and Service by Faculty will be distributed next week.

The ULM Foundation Award for Excellence in Service by Classified Staff went to Carolyn Bruce, an administrative assistant in the School of Visual and Performance Arts.

Bruce received her award from ULM President Nick J. Bruno, following remarks from Foundation Board Vice President and ULM Alum Linda Holyfield.

Bruce began her employment in the Louisiana Civil Service System in August 1995 and served as an administrative assistant for the ULM School of Music until 2003.

Following the creation of the ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts in 2003 she assumed a wider scope of duties and was promoted.

Bruce frequently steps beyond her normal scope of duties in the area of service, generously devoting her time to the ULM Crisis Leave Committee as well as the 2011 ULM Annual Fund Campaign.

The ULM Foundation Award for Excellence in Service by unclassified staff went to Sara Nicole Walker, an associate controller in the ULM Office of the Controller, who stated that she believed service work "isn't something you do for the recognition. It's simply something you do in order to do your part for your community, your church, your university, and your family."

 

The nominating committee noted Walker's service on local and statewide professional boards, as well as her commitment to community through work with such noteworthy organizations as the United Way of Northeast Louisiana, the Twin City Ballet Mother's Guild, First United Methodist Church, Kiroli Elementary and ARCO.

In addition, Walker has given time to numerous committees at ULM, including STAP, Banner Finance Standards Committee, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Reaffirmation Committee, the Calendar Committee and finally, the Banner Data Standards Committee.

"To be here with such a wonderful group of people is particularly rewarding," said Bruno, during the luncheon's opening remarks.

"We can make a difference. This is a great university and we can make it even better."

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