Todd Hawkins and Ebony Murray were honored with Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award, “recognizing exceptional performance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.”

“It is a signal of high esteem in which your colleagues hold you,” wrote Chancellor Robert Jones.

For the full announcement, including 14 others from around campus, see: https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/1550162396.

Todd Hawkins, ironworker foreperson

Listen to a new podcast with Todd Hawkins here.

From the University of Illinois News Bureau:
When something metal needs repair, service or construction, Facilities & Services calls Todd Hawkins, the iron workers foreperson. Beyond construction projects, iron workers are responsible for any metal fixtures on campus – hand rails, bike racks, trash cans, animal enclosures, art installations and more – and transport heavy, bulky or delicate fixtures and equipment. Under Hawkins’ leadership, this work is performed safely and without damaging the equipment, infrastructure or, most importantly, the crew. 

He comes in early each morning to ensure the days’ work is laid out for his crew of six ironworkers. He leads in both word and example, never asking a member of his crew to perform a task he would not or has not done himself. His focus is efficiency, both physical and operational, approaching each project with a well thought out and organized plan to preserve bodily safety and budgetary resources while meeting clients’ needs with care. 

Whether moving research equipment, installing new sculpture art, volunteering with the campus charitable fund drive or representing the university’s trade workers at high school career fairs, Hawkins enhances the university and its reputation.

From his nomination form:

Greg Moen, supervisor of building maintenance, nominated Hawkins. Moen spotlighted Hawkins’ technical abilities, but also characteristics of his leadership.

“One of the staples of their shop is moving heavy and bulky/delicate research equipment—including optical tables and MRI machines that can weigh thousands of pounds—in and out of labs with just inches of clearance. Once again, with Todd’s leadership, this work was performed safely without damaging the equipment, infrastructure, and most importantly the crew.

“Todd possess the technical knowledge, patience, active listening skills, collaboration skills, and he is a clear and concise communicator to be a very successful supervisor. I feel fortunate to call Todd Hawkins a co-worker. Facilities & Service and the University of Illinois as a whole are fortunate to have a supervisor with impeccable character, integrity, dedication, and thoughtfulness.”

Ebony Murray, building service worker

Go here for a podcast interview with Ebony here.

From the News Bureau:
As a building services worker in the F&S Garage and Car Pool, Ebony Murray goes beyond her routine cleaning duties to take on extra tasks to improve building quality. Her positive attitude, flexibility and initiative enhance the ability of staff to work and thrive in the building. 

Unfailingly respectful, polite and dedicated, she takes pride in her work. If there is an event or meeting in an area she needs to clean, she restructures her tasks so as not to interrupt any building occupants, yet ensures her job is completed efficiently and excellently. 

She routinely steps up to perform any tasks that she sees need doing without waiting to be asked, whether taking care of a dropped coffee mug or keeping ahead of periodic deep cleaning tasks to maintain a welcoming atmosphere for all who enter the building. She even takes the time to detail clean the UI Ride intercampus shuttle buses to give riders a flawless experience in a clean atmosphere. She is committed to learning, growing and representing the university in a positive light.

From her nomination letters:

Murray: “puts forth an effort to improve herself, as well as help improve other employees by leading by example. It is easy to respect someone who takes pride in their job, and you know it because you see it. Ebony takes pride in her work and if you just had a chance to see her in action you would know it.” – Tracy Osby, assistant superintendent of Building Services.

In her nomination, Macie Sinn, office manager, said Murray, “takes the initiative to go above and beyond what is expected of her. She performs the additional tasks without being asked, and is always smiling when we see her around the building.”