Brandeis celebrates employees’ service, contributions

More than 100 honored at luncheon

From left: Mathew McNeely, President Fred Lawrence and Ryan Gill

Members of the Brandeis community came together to celebrate their colleagues’ exceptional service and contributions to the university at the 2013 Employee Recognition Awards luncheon on Nov. 22.

The ceremony, held in the Faculty Club, recognized 112 employees for their years of service at Brandeis, including F. Trenery Dolbear Jr. and Charlotte Keen, who have each worked at the university for 45 years.

The Lou Ennis Staff Award and the Louis and Helen Zirkel Staff Award were also presented. Ryan Gill, senior human resources information systems coordinator, received the Zirkel Award, and Matthew McNeely, an electrical engineer in the physics department, was presented with the Ennis Award. A committee of faculty, staff and one student member selected Gill and McNeely from a large pool of nominations submitted by faculty and staff.

The Ennis Award recognizes an administrative employee who “has a history of consistent contributions to the well-being of the university” and treats “all members of the community with dignity and respect.” The Zirkel Award recognizes a staff member who has “made a significant contribution to or [has] demonstrated consistent effort to improve the service and the operation of his/her department and of the university.”

“It wasn’t on my radar. I was very happy and surprised that I actually won,” Gill says, noting that he’s not sure who nominated him for the honor. He says he always works hard “with a smile on my face no matter what, and get the work done no matter what.”

McNeely, who has been nominated previously, was surprised as well. “It’s overwhelming, and I’m extremely grateful for it,” he says. “I just work hard and help people with their work in the labs.”

Gill and McNeely will have their names engraved on a plaque, which will remain in their department over the next year, and receive a $500 check.

For more on the awards or previous award winners, visit the Employee Recognition Awards page.

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