The recipient will receive a cash award at the annual service awards, an inscribed personal plaque and a plaque that is displayed for one year in the recipient’s choice of building or office. In addition, the recipient’s name and year of award will be inscribed on a plaque that will be displayed in the Hall of Honor in McCastlain Hall.

This year’s nominees are:

Judy Corcoran, administrative secretary in the College of Liberal Arts

Judy Corcoran has been employed in the College of Liberal Arts for 21 years. During that time she has trained and served six different deans with different management styles. Corcoran said working in an academic setting with students and faculty has been very rewarding for her. "I believe that my job is to process information and maintain documentation that will help the dean of the college and the departmental chairs carry on the college’s programs, the ultimate goal of which is to create the well-educated college student."

Corcoran said her goal is to keep the lines of communication open among all of UCA’s entities because she believes this promotes trust and enhances efficiency. "I strive to keep the faculty and staff informed about procedures, developments and upcoming events," she said.

Corcoran has been a representative for the academic division on the Staff Senate for six years. She disseminated minutes of Staff Senate meetings to the administration and staff in a timely manner while serving as secretary of the senate. She has served as president of the Staff Club and has chaired and served on many Bosses Day committees. She has also been active in helping UCA staff raise funds for various activities, awards and scholarships for staff members and their families.

Jan Fortney, administrative secretary, Division of Continuing Education

Jan Fortney has been employed with the Division of Continuing Education for 2 and a half years. During that time, Fortney has produced a Continuing Education office procedures manual, developed a tracking system for Continuing Education’s personnel action forms for all class/event instructors, and most recently coordinated the successful move of the Continuing Education office from McCastlain Hall to Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center.

Fortney said her goals are to assist her boss and help make the division one of the best one campus. Fortney’s work philosophy is to take a team approach to her job. She said a "can do" attitude is a must. Her strategy in making her division one of the best on campus is to not put off until tomorrow what she can do today. She said she believes it is best to get the most difficult projects completed first and the rest will fall into place.

Joyce Reid, accounts supervisor, Division of Financial Services

Joyce Reid has been employed with the Division of Financial Services for 29 years. Reid enjoys her work and said working at the university has provided her with many opportunities. Reid said her goal is to always try to represent the university in a positive manner. "I am very proud to say that I work for the University of Central Arkansas," Reid said.

Reid’s strategy at work is "when given lemons, make lemonade." She said she tries to make the best of any bad situations. Reid is always friendly and helpful to students seeking information about financial aid. "In my position, I rarely get the opportunity to meet with or get to know students who are not having some financial difficulties," she said. "Students tend to meet with me for complaining, questioning and sometimes crying. I just keep striving to help these students stay in school. I see them as the future."

Sharon Wilkes, language laboratory instructor, Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Sharon Wilkes has been employed with the university for six years. Wilkes came to UCA with a BA in Spanish and education, but since that time she has studied French and German. "Now I am able to tutor student in Spanish, French, German and English as a second language and I can assist faculty with additional language-oriented tasks," she said.

Wilkes has strived to make the language lab the best it can be and her efforts have paid off. "The changes and additions I have implemented have contributed to a 100 percent increase in lab attendance over the past five years," she said. "I am extremely proud of this because it shows that more students are coming to the lab more often to get assistance and this makes them more successful students."

Wilkes has been very active on campus. She has attended numerous professional development courses on campus, she serves on the Staff Grievance Council and has participated in the Foreign Language Festival each year. She translates Spanish to English for various departments on campus including Human Resources, Physical Plant and the College of Liberal Arts. She also has participated in the Academic Enrichment for the Gifted and Talented in Summer program called Foreign Languages by Internet and Computer Software.

Beth Workman, Accounting Technician II, Department of Housing and Residence Life

Beth Workman has been employed by the university for more than 12 years, but the past two years she has worked in the Department of Housing and Residence Life. She said she enjoys her work because it has put her in closer contact with the students. "They are our future and it is exciting to be a part of their growing and learning, even if it is in a minimal way," she said. But Workman has learned that much can be accomplished with a smile and a kind word.

Workman’s strategy is to be a team player at work. She said that if you show consideration and respect for those around you then it makes for a good work environment. "If my contribution to my department makes things run more smoothly for my supervisors, co-workers, and the students I come in contact with, then I will have succeeded in my main goal.