STAR and Rising STAR winners named by NSU Staff Council

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--Thanks to their hard work and dedication, Jeff Walker and Leslie McNulty were recently honored by the Northeastern State University Staff Council.

Walker and McNulty were recipients of the STAR and Rising STAR awards respectively during NSUs employee recognition reception May 1 in the University Center Sen. Herb Rozell Ballroom.

The STAR stands for service, teamwork, attitude and reliability, said Staff Council chair Amanda Chappelle. Possession and utilization of these traits are what we believe make a staff member exemplary.

The STAR and Rising STAR awards recognize staff who excel in service, teamwork, attitude and reliability. Those employed for at least two years may be nominated for the STAR award. Nominees for the Rising STAR award must be in their first two years of employment. Nominations are submitted by faculty and staff.

Walker is director of FIrst-Year Experience, an office which tests, advises and enrolls freshmen and continuing undeclared students. FYE also facilitates the required freshmen orientation and success class.

He said it was an honor to be acknowledged by peers for doing what I love to do.

Im no different than the hundreds of others that work hard every day at NSU to serve others and I applaud them all, Walker said. I came to NSU as a freshman in 1983 and Ive been here ever since. I received my education, met my wife and started my career all at Northeastern. For the last 23 years as an employee at NSU, every day on this campus has been about serving others and that will never change.

McNulty, coordinator of access services at the John Vaughan Library, said she was very surprised to be named NSUs Rising STAR by the Staff Council.

I work to ensure all library patrons are receiving good customer service and have access to all the librarys resources, she said. The Department of Access Services operates the two main desks, so were very much the face of the library. I really enjoy working with the students and my colleagues and they create a fun atmosphere.

The NSU Staff Council was formed in 2010 as the representative body of NSUs full-time non-faculty employees. Members are elected to serve two-year terms and may not be elected to more than two terms in succession.

When we created Staff Council we unanimously agreed that we wanted to create a lasting awards program to recognize the excellent staff members of NSU, Chappelle said. Walker and McNulty epitomize the dedication to service for which the staff at Northeastern is known.

The STAR winners each received a crystal star trophy and a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble, courtesy of the RiverHawk Shoppe. They also receive Dell Netbooks courtesy of Allen Wilson from Dell and all-lots parking passes for a year. Their names and photos will also be placed in a public display board in Administration beside winners of NSUs Model the Way and Circle of Excellence awards.