Cal Poly Selects 2001-2002 Outstanding Staff Members
To recognize exemplary service to the university,
Cal Poly has named three employees to receive its 2001-2002 Outstanding
Staff Award: administrative analyst Margaret Booker of Cayucos,
library assistant Judy Drake of Los Osos and warehouse worker Jimmy
Motley of Santa Maria.
Booker, administrative analyst/specialist in the Psychology and
Child Development Department, joined the staff in 1988. The award
selection committee, quoting the people who nominated Booker, said she
is known for "her extraordinary graciousness to everyone in the
university, and her fundamental recognition of all community members as
human beings worthy of empathy and support. She is inclined to
sacrifice her own interest to whatever she perceives to be for the
larger good of her department, college and community.
"In all her interactions with students, faculty members and other staff
members, she is uncommonly wise and generous," the committee quoted.
"Booker's great gift and contribution exist in those more informal and
intimate exchanges, the focused, gentle, but extraordinarily capable
presence she brings to everything she does, the confidence she inspires
in everyone around her, and the perfection of her job performance. She
is always friendly and professional. Never, in all her years here,
have I heard a single complaint about her from students, staff or
faculty - a truly remarkable achievement!"
Booker's outside interests include serving as treasurer for a community
club and spending time with her grandchildren.
Drake, assistant in the Cal Poly Kennedy Library Access Services,
Bibliographic Services and Library Systems unit, began her career at
Cal Poly in 1972.
"She is known for her reliability and dependability and looks forward
to meeting the challenges of her job every day," a nominator said.
"She is found every morning with a smile on her face and a ready
greeting. She exhibits strong leadership skills and is well known in
the library for her ability to get the job done. Judy is not afraid of
a challenge and her demeanor is always professional and friendly. Judy
goes out of her way to be helpful to students, faculty and staff in
need of assistance.
"She takes the initiative to follow up on problems she sees developing.
She exhibits exceptional people skills and great compassion to others.
She is relied upon for her insights and opinions and seen as a model
employee."
Drake has been involved in the Morro Bay Athletic Boosters, South Bay
Soccer Association and San Luis Soccer Club and was a member of the
Every 15 Minutes Program. She has received numerous awards for
community involvement.
Motley works in the campus's Reprographics, Shipping and
Receiving, and mail units. He came to work at Cal Poly in 1983.
"He is well known campuswide for his very high work ethic, dedication
and loyalty to the job," nominators said. "He is always flexible
in
his schedule to meet the needs of the university. Jimmy has great
initiative and is always enthusiastically ready and willing to jump in
and lend a hand. He is always upbeat and positive-minded. He leaves
almost all he comes in contact with either laughing or smiling as he
walks out the door, and usually on a note of song."
Motley is heavily involved in family and church activities, assisting
with counseling and ministering in his community as well as on campus.
He volunteers to help others with household maintenance projects,
fund-raisers, "and anything else that's asked of him," which includes
filling the roles of "Elvis" and Santa Claus for special events.
"Jimmy brightens the lives of all those with whom he comes in contact
and leaves an everlasting impression," one fan said.
The honorees are nominated by faculty and staff members and reviewed by
a committee composed of former award recipients. Cal Poly President
Warren J. Baker selects the winners on the basis of the committee's
recommendations.
- 30 -
