The TC community gathered at Milbank Memorial Chapel on June 8 for the College's tenth annual Long-term Service Awards ceremony in recognition of administrative employees who have been with TC full-time for 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years. Sarah Prescott Phillips, TC Employment Administrator, kicked off the celebration with a 15-minute video, "Faces of TC," highlighting a decade of past award recognition ceremonies. Phillips' description of the video as reminiscent of "home movies" echoed the overall informal and family-like atmosphere clearly evident at the event.

TC President Arthur Levine gave the opening remarks. He noted that if you added up all of the years of service among all employees receiving awards, the duration of time would total 480 years. He continued to say that this probably means more than 40,000 different students came through the College and thousands of employees passed through the institution during a length of time of that magnitude. Jokingly, Levine said that when Steve Grady started here 35 years ago, Levine himself was only a freshman in high school. On a more serious note he continued, "You're the educators at this school (since) you've educated each one of us, and I'm thankful."

This year, there were many people who were recognized and honored for their dedication to the Teachers College community. Stacy Thomas, Academic Computing, Secretary, received an award for 15 years of service to the College. Those who received awards for 25 years of service included Antonio Brito, Facilities, Residence Halls, Superintendent; Robert Tucker, Health & Behavior Studies, Department Associate; Clarence Houston, Facilities, Residence Halls, Custodian I; and JoEllen Thomas, Arts & Humanities, Academic Secretary. Those who received awards for 30 years of service included Maggie Arrington, Payroll Office, Account Clerk; Muharrem S. Broja, Maintenance, Locksmith; Ramona Gonzalez, Facilities, Operations, Night Supervisor; Aida C. Mayoral, Registrar & Doctoral Studies, Clerk; Antonio Ravelo, Facilities, Operations, Supervisor; Josephine Takeall, Student Accounts, Lead Accounts Clerk; Nathan Freeman, Jr., Facilities, Operations, Day Supervisor; Joyce S. Logan, Registrar & Doctoral Studies, Administrative Assistant; Miguel A. Lopez, Administrative Computing, Senior Operator; Paula C. Russell, Institute for Urban & Minority Education, Division Associate; and Virginia M. Deering, Arts & Humanities, Department Secretary (retired). William S. Grady, Post Office/Shipping Receiving, Supervisor, received the award for the longest term of service to TC-35 years.

Fred Schnur, Vice President of Finance and Administration, announced the honorees by saying, "Because of your efforts…when each of us comes here, our lives are made easier." For each honoree, the award recipient's supervisor came up to the front of the chapel to say a few words. Dean Karen Zumwalt commented that each honoree represents something special about TC-"…loyalty to the College and institution which makes this a special place to be." When some of the award recipients were asked to look back on their experiences at TC, they talked about the reasons why they enjoy working here. Bob Tucker commented that it's the people and the academic environment that have contributed to the good experiences he's had at TC. Tucker has been with TC for the past 25 years, and spent the last 10 or more years working in the Department of Health and Behavior Studies. Nathan Freeman, who has been with TC for the past 30 years, started out his career here as a custodian. He then worked as the night watchman for five years. For the past four to five years, he has worked his way up to day supervisor of the College. On his years spent at TC, Freeman commented, "…I grew as the years progressed and I learned how to do different things around the school."

A reception immediately followed the awards ceremony in the TC cafeteria where there was plenty of food and music for all to enjoy.

Published Saturday, Apr. 13, 2002