No word yet on when administration will resume Eagle Award program

The year-old Eagle Award competition for Dillard staff is on hold until further notice, but is expected to resume, according to a member of the Rewards and Recognitions Committee.

Robin Toliver, a benefits specialist in Human Resources and a committee member, said the administration expects to resume the program, but no date has been set for when nominations will be accepted, and no nominations have been submitted for a while.

The Eagle Award was created in fall 2008 to "recognize staff that demonstrate exceptional work performance and go above and beyond the call of their duty in the performance of their jobs," according to the university Web site. Dr. Marvalene Hughes, DU president, said at the time on the site that the goal was to boost morale and create a sense of harmony in the Dillard community.

Previous recipients received a certificate and a designated parking space.

To date, only two recipients have been named. The fall 2008 winner was Dianne Lane, a switchboard operator for information technology and telecommunications. Zena Ezeb, administrative assistant for the Division of Humanities, was the spring 2009 recipient. No one was named for fall 2009 or this semester, spring 2010.

Lane, who has worked for Dillard for 18 years, was recognized and awarded in August 2008.  Ezeb, who has been with Dillard for 22 years, serving the last four at her current position, was recognized in January 2009.

Both recipients were selected because their demonstration of excellent customer service skills.

Toliver said managers or co-workers may nominate an individual, "but they need to show excellent customer service." Other qualifications include dedication to one's job/duty and to the university, selflessness, discipline, being a team player and being supportive of the university, co-workers and everyone around.

Toliver said consistency is key: "If they go above and beyond the call of duty, they have to be consistent in what they do. It's not like they just do it one time. It's something that they're always doing."

Toliver said the idea for the Eagle Awards arose during a Business and Finance retreat when Hughes asked everyone to identify an animal that describes his or her personality the most. Hughes said her personality was that of an eagle.

Along with Toliver, the Reward and Recognition Committee includes Audrey Clements, associate director of administrative services for ITT; Monica Givens, administrator for the Office of Business and Finance; Orenthal Goudia, ITT computer support specialist; Eula Lynch, director of Student Account Services; Jacqueline Thomas, Dillard University postal clerk; and Andrew West, LAN service specialist for ITT.