Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm recently announced this year's recipients of the Staff Merit Awards. The six award recipients are nominated by their peers and must have met four criteria: a positive attitude toward their job and the University; exemplary job performance; a good attendance record; and demonstrated special effort toward improving IU for the benefit of students, faculty, staff and alumni.\nSelected by a committee of their peers, faculty members and administrators, winners will be honored at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Frangipani Room at the Indiana Memorial Union with a plaque and $1,000.\nThe recipients are:
Rebecca Bryant\nIn her 25th year at IU, Bryant is currently office manager for the history department. She said she helps the chairperson of the department with administrative operations and hires and trains staff to run the department's day-to-day operations.\nBryant recently moved to Greenwood, Ind., from Bloomington, but kept her job at the University.\nBryant said she was "thrilled" and "honored" to find out about the award the week of Thanksgiving.\n"It's always an adventure in here," she said. "I love my job and I'm here to help the faculty and students every way that I can."
Harriet Castrataro\nIn 31 years at IU, Castrataro has worked a number of different jobs. She is currently academic adviser and co-director of placement in applied health sciences. She has also worked at the Main Library, the Lilly Library and graded English compositions for the independent study program.\nCastrataro, who lives in Bloomington, said she advises students on their academic and career issues, edits the department newsletter and represents her department and school on the campus level. She said she loves the intellectual and cultural life of the University and its "terrific" people. \n"It is a real honor to win the staff merit award," Castrataro said. "It's a delight and a privilege to assist students as they journey through college."
David N. Breeden\nAn electrician for IU's Physical Plant for 17 years, Breeden is responsible for electrical maintenance in University buildings, where electrical jobs are either slow or really busy, he said.\nBreeden said he was pleasantly surprised when he was called and informed of the award and congratulated by Brehm before Thanksgiving. \nBreeden, who lives west of Bloomington, said the "best part of the job is the satisfaction of being able to help the customer."
Ernie Robertson\nA plumber for the Physical Plant for 31 years, Robertson takes care of special equipment like water softeners, dish washers and humidifiers on campus. Robertson said his favorite part of the job is the variety and the fact that "there's always something new."\n"I go all over campus, and I like to move around," he said. "I just enjoy people and enjoy working here."\nRobertson, a Bloomington resident, said he has been up for the award before, but he was surprised and honored to hear he was selected.
Ruth E. Aten\nA staff member in IU's Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology for 20 years, Aten began as the department's graduate secretary and is currently the administrative services coordinator. Aten, a Bloomington resident, said she loves culture so she's in the perfect department.\n"What's not to like about folklore and ethnomusicology?" she said. "There's no reason to want to go anywhere else."\nAten, whose room is graced by 120 dolls from around the world, said she was pleasantly surprised by the honor.\n"I've made a lot of lifelong friends here," she said. "Not with just faculty and staff, but with students who have come through the program."
Kimberly Foust\nA University employee for 15 years in January, Foust, an accounting associate in international programs, said she feels fortunate to be working where she is. For six years, she has assisted Judith Rice, director of finance and program administration in the Office of International Programs, and helped coordinate grant programs. Previously, she was an administrative secretary in the Bloomington division of continuing studies. \nFoust, a Bloomington resident, said the best part of her job is the people.\n"I work with a great bunch of people who are very supportive," she said.
