At the annual College of Engineering Staff Appreciation Lunch, Dean John Walz announced the winners of this year’s Staff Excellence Awards. The winner in the non-exempt category was electrical and computer engineering lab technician Richard Anderson and the winner in the exempt category was Kenny Blair from Engineering Computing Services.
Blair, whose responsibilities include overseeing the computing needs of the dean, associate deans and staff in engineering administration, was lauded not only for his computing knowledge and availability to serve but also his ability to make sure presentations and events succeed. Whether rescuing a PowerPoint presentation minutes before a college faculty meeting or attending the annual Department of Civil Engineering Awards Banquet to ensure the presentations about the honorees flow smoothly, Blair was said to offer timely help with a friendly attitude.
- Kenny Blair, winner of a Staff Excellence Award in the exempt category, with Dean John Walz.
Anderson was praised for his significant technical and logistic expertise, reliability as a sounding board for classroom and experimental innovations and infectious positive attitude. A mentor known for offering invaluable aid to senior design groups, Anderson was commended for understanding the department’s needs, welcoming new faculty members and students and even spending several weeks supporting the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering when that department lost their technical support.
- Lab technician Richard Anderson, winner of a Staff Excellence Award, non-exempt category, with Dean John Walz.