Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

McKinley Award, Dec. 2001 - Mary Jan Cannon
CPT&R Wins National Award
UA Recreation Hosts Championship

McKinley Award, Dec. 2001 - Mary Jan Cannon

Mary Jan Cannon

Jan Cannon, data technician in the Action Card Office, plays a vital part in keeping the Action Card system working. Her nominators, Susan Hunter, group leader in the Auxiliary Operations Systems area, and Jeanine Brooks, director of the Action Card Office, agree that Cannon is dedicated to performing her duties in an excellent manner and goes above and beyond what is required. "Through her dedication, she also strives to ensure the Action Card system works in a manner that appears seamless to the user," wrote Hunter.

"The system processes over 3.5 million transactions annually and is always in use. Jan is there when needed, no matter what time of the day, night, or holiday," Hunter continued.

According to Brooks, Cannon has a high standard for her work ethic. She began her rise in the area when she went beyond her duties to save time and dollars by repairing some equipment on her own.

"Jan is always willing to plunge in and learn," wrote Brooks. Hunter and Brooks agree that Cannon truly embodies the spirit of the McKinley Award.

The McKinley Award was established by Helen H. and John K. McKinley of Darien, Conn., and Tuscaloosa in honor of McKinley’s father, Vergil Parks McKinley. The award recognizes enterprising employees who by action or idea contribute to the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. Vergil Parks McKinley came to UA in 1918 and retired as head of the College of Education’s trade and industrial development department in 1945. If you would like to nominate an employee for future awards, contact Amy Heatherly at 348-6690.

CPT&R Wins National Award

A University of Alabama television program about hummingbird research in the state received a first prize at the recent National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) conference in Las Vegas. NETA is an organization of 94 public broadcasting licensees in 40 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

NETA honored UA’s Center for Public Television and Radio (CPT&R) documentary "A Bird In the Hand" for excellence in science and nature programming. The program shows hummingbird banding and research conducted in Alabama by Bob and Martha Sargent and other members of the Hummer/Bird Study Group. Brent Davis produced the documentary.

"A Bird In The Hand" was shot and produced in high-definition television. CPT&R videographers Wade Woodall and Ricky Harmon captured images of hummingbirds and other migratory songbirds for the program. For more information about this documentary or CPT&R, contact Brent Davis at 348-8629.

UA Recreation Hosts Championship

Soccer players during a game University Recreation hosted the 8th annual National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Collegiate Soccer Sport Club Championship last fall on the University Recreation Fields. The three-day competitive format had 72 teams, 1,300 participants, and more than 1,000 support staff, spectators, and others attending from all over the United States.

In its 8th year, this tournament has grown to the record field of 40 men’s and 32 women’s teams. Teams competed in 1-1/2 days of pool play, and a single elimination tournament followed to crown the champions. The Men’s Championship title went to Brigham Young University and the Women’s Championship title went to Penn State. The Men’s Open Division title went to Ohio State, and the Women’s Open Division title went to Colorado "Black." University Recreation hopes to host this growing championship again soon. UA’s "Bama-style" hospitality and event management impressed the many visitors.