Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

June 14, 2004

McKinley Award, March 2004 Winner — Tom Hunter
Recognizing Others: An Ongoing Opportunity at UA

McKinley Award, March 2004 Winner — Tom Hunter

Tom Hunter

Tom Hunter, chief mechanician in UA's department of physics and astronomy, was named the McKinley Employee Award winner for March 2004. His nominator, Dr. Stan Jones, chair of the department, wrote that Hunter's contributions to the department and to the University have been numerous and varied. Hunter has been in the department's machine shop since 1962.

Jones says that while it is nearly impossible to list all the ways Hunter has contributed, he can point to several. "First is through his management of the machine shop," wrote Jones. "The shop produces research and teaching apparatus of a very high grade. It is frequently necessary to design and construct equipment for cutting edge research."

Jones also pointed to Hunter's strategy of purchasing high quality, expensive metalworking machinery at a much reduced cost from the federal government's surplus equipment program. "As a result, the shop is able to continue producing work that helps our faculty and graduate students perform cutting edge research," he continued.

An important responsibility that is critical to the department is overseeing the maintenance of the observatory. "When a gear broke, Tom has it quickly replaced so that open house events could be conducted as planned," Jones said.

According to Jones, Hunter's impact on the department of physics and astronomy has been considerable, which clearly meets the criteria for and spirit of McKinley Award winners.

The McKinley Award was established by Helen H. and John K. McKinley of Darien, Conn., and Tuscaloosa in honor of John McKinley's father, Vergil Parks McKinley. The award recognizes enterprising employees who, by action or idea, contributed to the University's mission of teaching, research and service. The monthly award carries a cash prize. 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 Human Resources at 348-6690.

Recognizing Others: An Ongoing Opportunity at UA

Employees are a long-term investment for The University of Alabama and one of its greatest resources. The department of human resources encourages faculty and staff to take advantage of the ongoing opportunities to recognize valued employees.

The most recently created recognition programs, developed by a team of UA employees in fall 1999, continue to flourish as year five of the program approaches. These awards provide not only for recognition of individuals but also for teams and on-the-spot accomplishments. Information about each award and the success these programs have experienced follows: The Crimson Spirit Award recognizes UA employees who make a special contribution to the University community by demonstrating the winning spirit that makes the University a great place to work. More than 150 spirited individuals have received this award to date. Along with the honor of being chosen, recipients receive a $50 monetary award, a specially designed Crimson Spirit Lapel Pin and the opportunity to be acknowledged in Dialog.
The Sam S. May Commitment to Service Award honors a very special man who worked for the University as a custodian in the chemistry department from 1911-1941. May learned chemistry from faculty members during his lunch hour and later tutored students and helped in research projects. In honor of May, this award recognizes departments, offices, teams, or centers that demonstrate exceptional customer service through ongoing commitment to customers, innovation and creativity in service and continuous improvement. Seventeen teams have distinguished themselves as May recipients since 2001. Recipients are recognized at the annual fall faculty/staff meeting, and receive a $500 monetary award and team shirts for their department. Dialog also acknowledges May Award winners.
Thank You Recognition Cards provide opportunities to recognize the accomplishments of employees "on the spot." The Bravo Card is an informal note card for written thanks and the Thank You Dining Card includes a meal card for a free lunch at a campus dining facility!

In addition to these new recognition programs, three other coveted awards exist to recognize employees. These awards, established to honor administrators, faculty and staff, serve to recognize excellence, distinguished service, and outstanding contribution to UA's fulfillment of its teaching, research, and service mission:

The Dr. Minnie C. Miles Endowed Excellence Award, endowed by long-term business faculty member Dr. Minnie C. Miles in appreciation for the contribution made to the work of the University by salaried administrative personnel, is presented annually to honor "an administrative employee who has performed in an exemplary manner, exceeding the expectations set for their position and fostering the mission of The University of Alabama." Recipients of this award are given a monetary award and a commemorative plaque.
In 1996 the E. Roger Sayers Distinguished Service Award was created by members of the President's Cabinet and the National Alumni Association to recognize faculty or salaried administrative personnel who have worked in an exemplary manner to further the mission of the University. The Sayers Award is presented during the annual faculty/staff meeting. Recipients are honored by having their name added to the group plaque in the foyer of Rose Administration Building and receive a monetary award.
Alumnus John T. McKinley endowed the Virgil Parks McKinley Sr. Award in memory of his father. The McKinley Selection Committee looks for enterprising employees whose actions or ideas make an outstanding contribution to UA. Recipients of this award are selected monthly, receive a monetary award and a lapel pin, are honored at an annual luncheon, and are recognized at the annual faculty/staff meeting.

For additional information about employee recognition programs, nomination processes and materials visit HR Development in G-54 Rose Administration, call 348-9700 or visit the Human Resources website at www.hr.ua.edu and take a look at the Employee Recognition page.

UA Home | Dialog Extra | UA News | Faculty/Staff Links | Legislative Updates