Contact: Aspen Harris

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Twelve Mississippi State University staff members are being recognized for their exceptional dedication to service and contributions with this year’s Donald W. Zacharias Distinguished Staff Awards.

The awards, given in honor of the university’s 15th president, were given during today’s [May 17] Staff Appreciation Day by MSU President Mark E. Keenum. The annual event is organized by the MSU Staff Council.

To be eligible, award nominees must be classified as a professional or support staff employee working at least half time and with a minimum of three years of campus service, among other criteria.

This year’s Zacharias Distinguished Staff Award honorees are:

—Raymond Brooks, executive director, Colvard Student Union and Event Services

—Lisa Conner, surgery operating room circulator supervisor, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

—Verleen Gray, operator, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

—Eric Henderson, custodian, Department of Mechanical Engineering

—Timothy Hopkins, executive director, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center

—Chuan-Yu Hsu, senior research associate, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology

—Christine Jackson, senior associate athletic director, Student-Athlete Support Services; executive director, Athletic Academics; and interim assistant vice president, Division of Access, Opportunity and Success

—Sherri Lowe, business coordinator, Coastal Research and Extension Center, Crosby Arboretum

—Justin Sanchez, community director, Department of Housing and Residence Life

—David Saucier, research engineer II, Athlete Engineering Institute and Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems

—Jolanta Raczynska, horticulture crew member III, Campus Landscape Services

—Cardia Williams, Head Start teacher, School of Human Sciences, Head Start

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.