VCU news

By Mike Porter

Gov. Terry McAuliffe honored Terrence Walker, an administrative assistant at University Counseling Services, and six other state employees for exemplary service and dedication to the commonwealth of Virginia.

Walker was recognized with the Governor’s Public Service Award for Workplace Health, Wellness and Safety for his role in creating RamPantry, a Virginia Commonwealth University food pantry.

The pantry was created after a survey of VCU students found 57 percent of respondents were not sure each day where they would get their next meal. The results led to the launch of Ram Pantry in January 2014.

Walker worked with others to secure space and equipment and organized a group of student volunteers to staff the pantry and run it as a student organization. The pantry served more than 1,800 people in its first year of operation.

The students running RamPantry partner with Food Lion grocery stores and other vendors to keep the shelves stocked. Senior executives from Food Lion have been so impressed that they have asked VCU to serve as a model for universities near the company’s North Carolina headquarters.

This is the 15th anniversary of the awards. In addition to recognizing Walker, six other state employees were recognized for excellence in the categories of Governor's Agency Star, Career Achievement, Community Service and Volunteerism, Customer Service, Innovation and Teamwork.

The commonwealth and the Virginia Credit Union have partnered on the Governor’s Awards for Public Service since their inception.

 

Feature image at top: Gov. Terry McAuliffe recognizes Ram Pantry coordinator Terrence Walker (center) for exemplary public service. Here, Walker accepts the Governor's Public Service Award for Workplace Health, Wellness and Safety as his wife Tracy (left), son Joseph and first lady Dorothy McAuliffe join him.  Photo by Michaele White, Governor’s Office.

 

Subscribe for free to the weekly VCU News email newsletter at http://newsletter.news.vcu.edu/ and receive a selection of stories, videos, photos, news clips and event listings in your inbox every Thursday. VCU students, faculty and staff automatically receive the newsletter.