Accolades

Lancaster Recognized With McKinley Award

Dennis Lancaster, materials clerk senior in central receiving, recently was presented the Vergil Parks McKinley Award. Lancaster, who has served in a number of capacities during 32 years at UA, is known for seeing assignments and department expectations as opportunities for learning and improvement.

“Dennis provides the support that is critical to sustain motivation of fellow employees and also in meeting customer expectations. His ability to think ‘out of the box’ and clearly meet a desired outcome is outstanding,” said Tony Johnson, assistant director of logistics and support services who nominated Lancaster for the award.

Lancaster’s duties require him to work closely with departments campuswide on a daily basis to ensure prompt delivery of vital equipment to their areas. He also arranges storage for items if delivery must be postponed.

Describing Lancaster as a “brick” of the University, Johnson said, “Dennis fully understands that each decision has an impact on the success of the University and his determination is to have a positive influence with everyone he comes in contact with.”

Recently, Lancaster learned of a change in his department and volunteered to take on extra responsibilities and tasks to help the department succeed.

“It’s like a breath of fresh air knowing you can ask someone to accomplish a task and he handles it correctly and with a sense of pride,” said Johnson.

Michael Reid, associate director of logistics and support services and a nominator, said Lancaster must maintain a continuing knowledge and familiarity with UA operating systems including Banner, the P-card system and the Facility Focus Work Management System and has seen many changes in procedures and software during his time at UA.

“He has always mastered the operating requirements and shared his knowledge with fellow staff members,” said Reid.

In addition to campus departments, Lancaster helps to maintain a positive and productive relationship with various freight carriers who deliver to UA.

“Dennis typifies the phrase ‘customer service’ and greatly enhances the ability of the entire logistics and support services area to provide prompt and efficient service for the faculty, staff and students of the University of Alabama,” said Reid.

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 quarterly 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. For more information on nominating an employee, contact Human Resources at 348-6690.

UA Ecologist to Chair Section of National Higher Education Association

Dr. Amy Ward, professor of biological sciences and director of UA’s Center for Freshwater Studies, is set to become chair of the National Association of State Universities and land grant Colleges’ ecology section during the organization’s annual meeting set for Nov. 11-13 in New York.

Founded in 1887, the national organization, known as NASULGC, is an association of public research universities, land-grant institutions and many state public university systems. Its 216 member institutions enroll more than 3.6 million students, according to the organization, and it is dedicated to excellence in learning, discovery and engagement. It is the nation’s oldest higher education association.

NASULGC’s ecology section, which Ward presently serves as vice-chair, promotes university- based programs in the ecological sciences, providing leadership in communicating with federal agencies, states, media and private organizations. It promotes the public understanding of ecological issues and assists universities in achieving interdisciplinary programs.

Ward, a faculty member in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, also heads a graduate education program to support students in freshwater studies. In the Integrative graduate Education and Research Training program, known as IGERT, UA faculty from biological sciences, geography and geology participate jointly with faculty in similar areas from the University of New Mexico.

The program allows students from each of the two universities to travel to the other region and study freshwater environments in contrasting climates. The students also participate in externships with state and federal agencies where they apply what they have learned in dissertation research to real-world problems.

UA’s Center for Freshwater Studies, which Ward founded, is dedicated to understanding and preserving water, the environment in and around it, and the plants and animals, including people, that depend on it. This teaching, research and outreach program draws together faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, the School of law and the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration.

Public Relations and Marketing Teams Garner Many Awards at State Meeting

The department of public relations and the department of marketing communications both received several awards at the state meeting of the Public Relations Council of Alabama held recently in Mobile.

The Medallion Awards recognize the best work produced by members of the Public Relations Council of Alabama within a given year. In 2007, the competition received 151 entries.

Andy Rainey, Brian Jones and Deborah lane received the Judges’ Award and an Award of Excellence for the category of Web site development for the “UA Institutional Home Page Redesign.” The Judges’ Award is one of PRCA’s highest honors. This competitive award honors work the judges deemed outstanding. No more than two Judges’ Awards may be given per competition.

Medallion Awards, Awards of Excellence and Merit Awards are not competitive awards. They represent levels of quality in research, planning, implementation, evaluation and creative principles of public relations as determined by the judges.

Medallion Award winners were: Mary Wymer in the category of Writing for PR: News Release, “Holiday Traffic Trends”; and lucy Arnold Sikes in two categories: Special Purpose Publications, “Our Students. Our Future. Campaign Scholarship Book,” and Images: Photography B&W, “Our Students. Our Future. Campaign generations Photograph.”

Award of Excellence winners were: Deidre Stalnaker in the category of Writing for PR: News Release, “Dammit Shakespeare”; Bill McDaniel and Shane Dorrill in the category of Broadcast Production External Video, “Tannehill Excavation”; McDaniel, Chandra Clark and Matt Williams in the category of Broadcast Production External Video, “UA Spirit Campaign”; Dorrill and McDaniel in the category of Broadcast Production External Video, “Engineers Without Borders Restore Baseball Field.”

Merit Awards were presented to the following: McDaniel, Clark, Dorrill, Jones, Williams, and grant Premo in the category of Broadcast Production Podcast, “UA Professor Podcasts”; Stalnaker, category: Writing for PR Feature Story, “Sylvia Elliott Memorial Textbook”; Suzanne Dowling, Cathy Andreen, lane and Rainey, category: Measurement, “UA In the News/FYI”; Clark, Dorrill, McDaniel, Premo and Williams, category: Broadcast Production: External Video, “UA Housing and Residential Communities.”

Sikes received Merit Awards for Potpourri: “Our Students. Our Future. Talking Points Booklet”; and Special Purpose Publications: “Our Students. Our Future. Faculty/Staff Campaign.” Also, Sikes served as president of the West Alabama PRCA chapter, which received the Chapter of the Year Award.