Preview
Award Year
2021
Title of Position
Custodian- Physical Plant
Description
Nora Espino is the 2021 recipient of the Max L. Starkey Service Award at Illinois Wesleyan University. President S. Georgia Nugent announced the award winner Aug. 16 at the annual faculty-staff school year kickoff event. A University employee for more than 17 years, Espino currently serves as a custodian in the Center for Natural Sciences (CNS). Previously, she was assigned to residence halls, where a nominator noted that “her students loved her.” The nominator continued, “She was always going the extra mile for them.”
And now, this year’s clues…
- Social scientists have found it is what people bring to their work that makes it especially meaningful. You might say this year's winner is the personification of that idea.
- Surpassing their job description, through excellent customer service to those on campus, they are "an ambassador for IWU," as described by one nominee.
- Other nominees used these phrases:
- "the definition of team player"
- "always learning and willing to help others out"
- "dedicated, cares about our mission, always goes above and beyond"
- “an exemplary employee with outstanding work ethic"
- and, "extremely well liked by students".
- Yet another nominee described our winner as "a ray of sunshine."
- It was said of her, "Her dedication and loyalty to her work is outstanding. But what is even more impressive is her care of people."
- Responsible for a highly visible area of campus, her work becomes a show piece for prospective students and employees.
- And she shares many colleagues serving a role that was appreciated with new fervency when the pandemic hit.
- This year's winner has been a part of Illinois Wesleyan's custodial department for 17 years.
Please join me in congratulating our 2021 Max Starkey Award winner, Nora Espino.