MARQUETTE, Mich.—Seven Northern Michigan University staff members received the 2010 Excellence in Service Award at a recent employee recognition lunch.

The recipients and their departments were: Della Cheney of clinical laboratory sciences (CLS), for playing an essential role in assisting both the practical nursing and CLS departments; Lindsay Sparks of housing and residence life, for redeveloping her department’s Live-Learn-Lead program, a five-part leadership training program for students; and Linda Hares of academic affairs, for her role as a problem-solver on campus by virtue of her vast knowledge of university policies and practices and as someone who is willing to provide assistance to those who need it; Andrew Smentkowski of grants and research, for his guidance and hard work in getting 71 grants submitted in 2008-09, increasing the amount of external funding, and for implementing the new grants and research office; Paula Supanich of plant operations, for keeping the campus grounds presentable and functioning and going the extra mile to improve campus, such as creating the flower garden outside of the Gries entryway; Dean Schmeltzer of grounds/plant operations, for his dedication while working as a mechanic at NMU for 19 years and his responsibility for the maintenance and repair of all university-owned vehicle and equipment; and Lynne Gerhardt, director of teacher education student services, for developing easy-to-use program plans and explaining individual plan requirements to faculty and students.

The TLC Staff Award for effective use of technology was presented to Karl Mulder of administrative information technology and Theresa Nease of the president’s office for their efforts to implement an electronic board book that provides a secure, interactive and efficient way for the NMU Board of Trustees to access meeting materials.

Distinguished Team Service Awards were presented to the Olympic Trials and World Cup short track speedskating organizing committee and to the NMU Golf Course team, which was responsible for converting the Chocolay Downs golf course into an NMU entity ready for its first season of operation within 110 days of the course being donated to the university.