U of A Staff Members Honored for Service at Appreciation Banquet

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Chancellor Joe Steinmetz (center) presents 50 year service awards to Judy Culberson and James Ezell.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Judy Culberson and James Ezell, two University of Arkansas staff members, each with 50 years of service, were among more than 400 staff members recognized at this year’s Employee Appreciation Banquet, Tuesday evening, Oct. 10, at the Fayetteville Town Center. 

Culberson, a copy cataloguing specialist at Mullins Library, has worked in the same department for 50 years, adapting and mastering the ever-changing processes, rules and technology.

Ezell started at the U of A as an assistant treasurer in student accounts, but since 1983 has served as director of risk and property management, managing 266 real estate transactions that added 337 acres to the campus.

Both were presented with colorful glass awards in addition to the traditional certificates of appreciation and lapel pins all staff honorees received.

In all more than 300 staff members were recognized for serving 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 45 years at the university – a sign of the loyalty and stability of the U of A workforce. Chancellor Joe Steinmetz, who spoke at the banquet, noted that together they represented 5,000 years of experience, invaluable to the university.

During the ceremony Staff Senate Awards were also presented.

Five staff members received Employee of the Year awards: Audra Johnston, associate director of international students and scholars; Becky Shoemaker Lingelbach, payroll director for human resources; Sedivy Reigh, office manager in the Graduate School; Tami Trzeciak, fiscal support specialist for the Department of Mathematical Sciences; and Randy Luper, journeyman electrician with Facilities Management.

They were chosen from among the 19 employees of the quarter, who were also recognized at the banquet.

The Staff Senate Team Award went to the Enrollment Services Cross-Functional Team and its members: Michael K Hooper, Kristen Karpinski, Jean Mitchell, Anne Raines and Adrienne Ransom.

Shelby Schisler, a technical assistant in Career Services received the Staff Senate Part-Time Employee Award.

Staff Senate Scholarships were awarded to 25 employees, to further their education at the U of A, and 60 staff members were recognized for having completed their studies and graduated in December 2016, Summer 2017 or May 2017.

The full list of all U of A staff members recognized at the banquet is available online.