University of Arkansas Housekeeping Staff Members Win Diversity Awards and Rewards

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Maria Gonzalez, coordinator of housekeeping for the department of facilities management, and sixteen of her co-workers swept the second annual University of Arkansas Diversity Awards. Gonzalez earned the individual Diversity Award and was a member of the Custodial Diamond Team that won the team award.

Gonzalez was recognized for her tireless efforts to enable the custodial department to recruit and hire a diverse staff, with many ethnicities represented, as well as people with disabilities and those of differing sexual orientations. Those who nominated her for the award praised her work recruiting a diverse staff, translating between English and Spanish during interviews, and helping to fill out the necessary paperwork both internally and with the office of human resources. Gonzalez also supports the staff by translating for supervisors and Latino custodians whenever, and wherever she is needed. In addition she volunteers her time to attend each new employee orientation and the university’s campus session when there is a need to translate from English to Spanish. She has also been known to write out what is being said for one of her employees who is deaf.

The Individual Diversity Award is recognized with a desk plaque and a check for $500.

Gonzalez is also part of the 17-member Custodial Diamond Team, winner of the 2007 Team Diversity Award. The group chose its name because, like a beautiful diamond, they are made up of many facets. The team’s goal is to enhance diversity through progress, growth and encouragement. Most of the management staff and 25 percent of their shift members have completed the diversity certificate program. Since their shift begins at 3 p.m. this means that most of the training has been done during their time off.

Custodial Diamond Team members say they have learned it doesn’t matter if you are white, black, Hispanic, gay or have a disability: If you can do the work you deserve the right to have a job and be treated with respect.

Custodial Diamond Team members are Sendra French, Sandra Thornburgh, Carolyn Hicks, Patricia Leming, Patrick Murphy, Maria Gonzalez, Chris Shapley, Anita Taffner, Thomas Baker, Bill Kearney, Mark Crates, Audrey Deffebaugh, Nancy Aufleger, Robert Allen, Carolyn Fugit, Michaela Hensley and Jeffery Puckett II.

Each team member received an engraved glass ruler symbolizing the measurement of progress toward achieving diversity and inclusion on campus, as well as a check for his or her share of the $2,500 team award.