For reasons not unlike those that brought about faculty awards, discussion about staff awards began around 1980. Four years later, after much debate about qualifications, creation of procedures, and recruitment of a selection committee, NIU conferred the first four presidential awards for operating staff excellence.
Personnel Director David Conrad said the awards honored civil service employees “who have demonstrated exemplary work and made significant contributions to the university community.”
Operating Staff Council President Pat Hewitt reported that the first–ever call for nominations had netted 88 nominees.
The first four winners were:
- Patricia L. Francis, administrative secretary for the Department of English
- Myrtle E. Podschwit, library technical assistant in the interlibrary loan area
- Doris Rauman, budget analyst in the Office of Budget and Planning
- Bob Weishaar, route driver for Campus Mail Services
All four winners had been employed at NIU for at least 17 years. In the 36 years since its inception, 144 operating staff employees have been honored with the award.
With the maturation of the research and outreach missions of the university came an increase in the number of employees in the newer employment category known as supportive professional staff. In 1992, the university created a comparable award for SPS employees. The first four winners of that award in 1992 were:
- Joan Greening, Career Planning and Placement
- Sandra Kuchynka, College of Professional Studies
- Linda Schwarz, Sponsored Projects
- Robert Woggon, Public Information
In the 28 years since its inception, 112 SPS employees have been honored with the award.
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