As President Edward Burger stood at the podium speaking to the audience at the 2017 Staff Service Years Recognition Event and Mundy Awards, he couldn’t help but use his discipline—mathematics—to reveal the magnitude of passion, love, and dedication that’s been poured into Southwestern.

“It works out to be exactly 400 years,” said Burger, totaling the Southwestern careers of the day’s honorees. “Four hundred years of service, isn’t that amazing?”

This year, five staff members received The Mundy Award for Exemplary Service. This award, created in 2002 as a memorial to the leadership of former Southwestern alumnus and trustee, Joe Mundy, recognizes faculty and staff who have demonstrated outstanding service to Southwestern.

The 2017 recipients include: Information Services Programmer/Analyst Trish Aitken, Head Football Coach Joe Austin, Grounds/Event Set-up Expert Juan Garza, Internship Coordinator Maria Kruger, and Senior Director of Information Technology Todd Watson.

The names of these five awardees will be added to the plaque of all previous winners on display in Bishops Lounge. They will also be recognized at the graduation convocation ceremony this May.

In addition, 29 staff members were recognized for length of service to Southwestern ranging from five to 35 years:

35 Years of Service

Norma Gaines, Executive Administrative Assistant—Finance and Administration

30 Years of Service

Debi Flummer, Information Services Assistant Information Services—Library

25 Years of Service

Laura Gatlin, Administrative Computing Support Specialist—Information Technology Services

20 Years of Service

Herminia Carreño, Custodian—Custodial Services

Julie Cowley, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs—Office of the Dean of the Faculty

Lori McBee, Accounts Payable Clerk—Business Office

Traci Willis, Systems and Network Administrator—Information Technology Services

15 Years of Service

Cullie Hamilton, Gift Accounts Coordinator—University Relations

Kent Huntsman, Associate Vice President for Development—University Relations

Susan Lamb, Senior Administrative Assistant—Office of the Dean of the Faculty

Susan Leavell, Administrative Assistant—Athletics

Jingwen Ma, Chemistry Stockroom Manager/Lab Technician—Chemistry Department

Maricruz Orona, Custodian—Custodial Services

Susan Stubbs, Executive Administrative Assistant—University Relations

Christine Vasquez, Senior Administrative Assistant Academic Administration—Office of the Dean of the Faculty

10 Years of Service

Mary Blank, Enrollment Services Information Assistant—Enrollment Services

Rosa Garcia, Custodian—Custodial Services

Megan Hardin Sports Information Director—Athletics

Bill Lane, Central Plant Operator—Central Plant

Doreen Prevots, Special Collection and Archives Assistant—Information Services / Library

David Smith, Mail Clerk—Post Office

Maria Tijerina, Custodian—Custodial Services

Michael Torres, Equipment Manager—Athletics

5 Years of Service

Hershell Biffle, Supervisor of Central Plant—Central Plant

Terri Johnson, Assistant Dean for Student Multicultural Affairs—Student Life

Nathan Mendez, Systems and Network Administrator—Information Technology Services

Ken Nofsinger, HVAC Mechanic—Mechanical Services

Melynda Stiles,Executive Administrative Assistant—Enrollment Services

Tisha Temple, Director of Intercultural Learning—Intercultural Learning

Though President Burger has not been around for the 400 years of combined service given to Southwestern by these dedicated members of the staff, he is proud of what has been accomplished during his time as president.

“I personally want to thank you for the last four years of service, which have been so meaningful,” says Burger. “Everyone in this room has given so much of themselves to a process that continues to grow.”