Rodriguez, Kiger are 2002 HACE employee award winners

The Hourly and Classified Employees Association presented its 2002 Staff Member of the Year and Rookie Staff Member of the Year awards at its annual banquet in May.

Police officer Eddie Rodriguez was honored with the Staff Member award, while Nicole Kiger of the Office of Student Activities and Leadership received the Rookie award.

Rodriguez, now in his third year with the Office of Public Safety, was nominated for the award by Thomas G. Longo, assistant chief of police for administration.

"In the relatively brief period of his tenure with Old Dominion, Officer Rodriguez has distinguished himself as one of our finest police officers, and a markedly above-average employee," Longo wrote on the nomination form.

He also credited Rodriguez for his positive attitude and expedient handling of some of the more mundane tasks of police officers, such as locking and unlocking classrooms, and for his diligence in enforcement.

"More importantly, Officer Rodriguez routinely conveys his sense of the importance of such service-oriented activities to the customer. We in Public Safety view this as critical, as we are a service-oriented department," Longo added.

Rodriguez was also lauded for his work with the youth of Lambert's Point, particularly his novel program to promote academic success.

Longo wrote, "He parks his police cruiser on one of the residential streets in the Lambert's Point area during the afternoon and chirps his siren. He then waits for children to come to his car. He usually doesn't have long to wait. This is because the local youth know that the first child to make it to his car with a grade of A on a school paper will get $5. Eddie has done this for several months, and funds this from his own pocket."

For these actions, the City of Norfolk nominated him for a 2002 Crime Prevention Award.

Longo added, "Officer Rodriguez is known as a 'can do' employee who enjoys a good reputation for helping others on campus and off campus with a personal touch."

Sgt. Karen Daniels, Rodriguez's supervisor, noted, "In my four years of supervising employees at Old Dominion University, I believe that Officer Eddie Rodriguez is one of the few employees I have worked with that seemed to recognize that excellence is a journey and not a destination."

As Staff Member of the Year, Rodriguez received $200 from the Jill Nolte Endowment Fund, a reserved parking space for one year, complimentary athletic tickets and a framed certificate.

Nicole Kiger's nomination for the HACE Rookie Award was supported by administrators, colleagues and students. Her nominator, Don Stansberry, director of the Office of Student Activities and Leadership, credited her for being detail-oriented and extremely organized.

"These strengths are invaluable as she juggles several programs each week. She is well-liked and respected, and people know they can count on her to get the job done," he wrote on the nomination form.

Stansberry added, "I am impressed by the amount of respect and admiration the students have for her. She is truly a role model, mentor, friend and effective adviser for them."

Kiger, who joined the university in June 2001 on a part-time basis and worked her way into a permanent position as coordinator for programming for the Office of Student Activities and Leadership, also received a letter of support from Dana D. Burnett, vice president for student services.

"She challenges her peers and students to broaden their minds and see the unlimited potential within themselves," Burnett wrote, adding, "Nicole loves what she does and is good at it; there is no better combination for success."

Kiger also received letters of support from Sue MacDougall, director of Webb Center, and Janet McLaughlin, director of dining services. Both lauded her for her hard work with regard to helping put on student events and her cooperative spirit.

Krista L. Harrell, graduate assistant for leadership and Greek life programs, wrote, "Nicole Kiger is the hardest-working person in Student Activities and Leadership and that is a difficult honor to hold. She is such a diligent and dedicated staff member that offices all around the university regularly call on [her] for help with an event or programming idea."

Kiger's winnings included $100 from the Jill Nolte Endowment Fund, complimentary athletic tickets and a framed certificate.

21 total nominations received

HACE received 14 other nominations for the Staff Member award. They are: Linda Baker, military science; Sharoyn Baker, student activities and leadership; Marcie Blanchard, electrical and computer engineering; Sonya Fitchett, finance office; Patricia Futrell, housekeeping and apparel services; Jeff Hastings, auxiliary services; Becky Jones, Writing Center; L'Tanya King, sociology and criminal justice; Moses Marshall, housekeeping and apparel services; Karlene Masters, international student services; Debbie Miller, multicultural student services; Sue Nagle, Yon Student Health Center; Denise Ramirez, distance learning; and Carmel Saucer, biological sciences.

Seven nominations were submitted for the Rookie award. They included Jessenia Alvostaria, distance learning; Jennifer Fallon, disability services; Ken McCague, international admissions; Deanna Pace, Career Management Center; Laura Smith, dean's office, College of Business and Public Administration; and Elizabeth Wallace, special events and governmental relations.