Left to right: Assistant to the President and Associate Director of Human Resources Albert Jones joins Interim President Barbara B. Dixon in congratulating Meritorious Recognition awardees Candace Matthews, Ralph Kalbach and Vicki Paulina.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Three Lock Haven University employees received Meritorious Recognition Awards at the 2010 opening meeting on August 26. Assistant to the President and Associate Director of Human Resources Albert Jones presented the awards.

Meritorious Achievement Awards are presented to university employees who are nominated by their peers and are seen as outstanding contributing members to the LHU community. Recipients must embody the definition of merit: value, excellence, or superior quality. Recipients are seen to be outstanding in areas such as achievement on the job, service to customers/constituents, promoting positive morale, personal and professional development, and team building.

Candace Matthews, custodian, Facilities Department was recognized for “pride in performance and going out of her way to accommodate the needs of the department. She was also recognized for her pleasant disposition and enjoyable personality. The program also noted that “Students and faculty are engaged by her friendliness and impressed by her work ethic.”

Vicki Paulina, course developer, Office of Academic Technology, was recognized as “an exceptional asset to the LHU community.” While her responsibilities lie within the distance education office, she has contributed to numerous other projects across campus. One nominator noted her “rare ability to translate highly specialized technological terms and functions into accessible language and tasks.” The nominators described her as among “the best of the best” that LHU has to offer.

Ralph Kalbach, equipment manager, Zimmerli Equipment Room, was recognized for his meritorious service to 16 faculty and 500 students in the Health and Physical Education Program. His nominators described the role he plays in the students’ professional development. He encourages students to plan ahead and models good planning for them. The program also noted that he is “highly organized, professional, and always performs his job in an exceptionally courteous manner.”