40th Annual Service Awards Honor Employees

Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System recognized employees for their dedicated years of commitment at the 40th annual Service Awards receptions.

Nearly 2,000 employees, who have been with the university from five to 20 years, were honored at receptions held on both campuses last week. A separate reception, followed by a special Theatre VCU performance of "Grease," will be held in November for faculty and staff with 25 or more years of service.

"These awards honor out greatest asset – you," President Michael Rao, Ph.D., said at the MCV Campus reception. "I can’t thank you enough for the work you do every day."

At the Monroe Park Campus reception, David Hanson, vice president for finance and administration, cited the importance of employees staying focused on the fundamental values represented by the Quest for Distinction — VCU's new strategic plan unveiled earlier this month.

"We really need to be focusing very intently on those core activities that make us better and that we're already excellent in," Hanson said. "It's been a very tough economic environment, which again speaks very highly to the community that VCU offers, because when you have those kinds of situations and people are still excited to come to work and still passionate about the institution and Quest, I think that speaks to the level of exceptionalism that VCU represents."

The service awards are instrumental in letting employees know that they are valued, Melanie Boynton, VCU Staff Senate President, said.

"[Our employees] are the legs on which we stand," she said. "If they weren't here doing the great things that they do, then we wouldn’t be where we are as an institution."

Employees with 45 or more years of service are pictured above. For a complete list of recipients, go to http://www.hr.vcu.edu/compensation/rewardservice.html.