Six individuals and a team of essential personnel will receive the 2021 Distinguished Performance Awards at the 28th annual DPA and Service Recognition ceremony Monday, May 24. The 1 p.m. event in the Reng Student Union auditorium will be hosted by Staff Senate and streamed live. Congratulations to the award recipients:

• Unsung Hero – Laura Cremeens, Enrollment Management
• Team Player – Angela Gibson, Payroll Services
• Rookie of the Year – Jae-Kur Lockhart, Diversity and Community Engagement
• STAR (Service, Teamwork, Attitude, Reliability) – Kathleen Ruth, Military Science
• Enhancing the Student Experience – Jennifer Salo, College of Liberal Arts and Communication
• Outstanding Part-Time – Bryan Carmer, Access and Accommodation Services
• Team Achievement – Essential Personnel in Custodial Services, Facilities Management, University Police Department, Sodexo and University Housing

These individuals exemplify professionalism and dedication to excellence in service, and perform above the standard to improve programs. The Distinguished Performance Awards program was initiated in 1994 to recognize outstanding performance and long-time service by the university’s non-faculty employees.

Thirteen individuals retiring during the 2020-21 academic year will be recognized Monday during the annual Distinguished Performance Awards and Service Recognition Ceremony. The 13 have more than 220 total years of service. Bobby Burton, Grounds and Landscape, has the longest period of service, 32 years. Other retirees are Jim D. Carter, Childhood Services, 13 years; Ina Cohn, Childhood Services, 14 years; Jeannie Cossey, Provost Office, 11 years; Timmy Davis, Grounds and Landscape, 21 years; Sherry Ellis, Agriculture, 12 years; Karen Fullen, Social Work, 21 years; Debra Holmberg, Nursing, 10 years; Jennifer Jasinski, Enterprise Risk Management, 30 years; Carol Moseley, Childhood Services, 10 years; Barbara Pearson, Fowler Center, 10 years; Jacquelyn Rorex, Institutional Effectiveness, 22 years; and Regina Wingo, Childhood Services, 10 years.

Congratulations to six A-State staff members who have attained service milestones of 40 or 30 years. They will be recognized during the Distinguished Performance Awards and Service Recognition ceremony Monday. Sharon K. Lee, Diversity and Community Engagement, has completed 40 years, while five staff members have 30 years of service: Malissa Davis, Archives; Dr. Russ Hannah, Finance and Administration; Jennifer Jasinski, Enterprise Risk Management; Pam Kail, System President’s Office; and Phillip Ladd, Planning, Design and Construction.

Thirteen individuals who have attained 20 years of service will be recognized. Those individuals and their employment areas are Eric Barnett, Information and Technology Services; Jamie Carmack, Records and Registration; Diana Courson, Childhood Services; Loretta Fulton, Information and Technology Services; Gina Goodwin, Information and Technology Services; Woodie Sue Herlein, Childhood Services; Clay Hurn, Printing Services; Randall Knowles, Athletics Administration; Jerrod Lockhart, Student Support Services; Laura Miller, Small Business and Technology Development Center; Sharon Rye, Information and Technology Services; Felicia Smith, University Police; and Mia Sheppard Taylor, Custodial Services.

Thirty-four staff members will be recognized for attaining their 10-year service milestone. They are Julie Bates, Norma Bell, Shelby Bevly, Jesse Blankenship, Chris Boothman, Michael Bradley, Carol Caldwell, Marsha Carwell, Carol Cummings, Cary Lynn Estes, Steven Franks, Mark Freier, Gregory George, Lora Gibson, Stephanie Gibson, Ronnie Gilley, Keith Gilliam, Vickie Gilmer, Edward Haff, Melissa Halter, Shea Harris, Alexis Hurdle, Christina Kostick, Whitney Lumpkin, Anita Murray, Katherine Prescott, Violeta Simek, Lonzo Smallwood, Mary Elizabeth Spence, Charles L. Welch, Alyssa Wells, Sharon Wilson, Thomas Wilson and Connie Zolen.