Student Services, Administration and Finance announce recipients of their employee awards

The Office of Student Services presented its first division-wide Footprints Award Wednesday to Jenny Caja, fiscal technician in the student services office.

The new annual award was created to recognize a nonprobationary employee who has a "contributor" or higher rating on the performance evaluation and exhibits many of the following attributes: goes above and beyond the call of duty, team player, self starter, positive attitude, dependability and exceptional customer service.

Caja, who has worked in student services two years, received a cash award of $850, a certificate and the Footprints statue to keep on her desk for a year. Her name will be engraved on a plaque to be displayed permanently in the Office of Student Services.

In her letter of nomination, Caja was described as one who "is always positive, professional and prompt. She goes above and beyond to ensure that we have the needed resources in a timely manner. She is very warm in her communication, which is calming during stressful transactions."

Dimas Cortez of the Office of Parking Services received the sixth annual Gazelle Award at the area-wide meeting of the Office of Administration and Finance July 23.

The $1,000 award recognizes an employee in the division, nominated by his or her peers, who demonstrates, among other things, consistent exceptional performance of duties. Cortez was cited for his dependability, honesty, reliability, accountability and professionalism in everything he does.

James Long, director of parking services, stated in his nomination, "By profession, Mr. Cortez is a mason. He learned his skills while working on the Panama Canal from 1954 to 1981. When asked to build the stone wall around Quarantine Garden, he was happy to be able to use his masonry skills."

Cortez began his career at the university in 1994 in the grounds department and transferred to the Office of Parking Services in 1999.