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Every year, a few select staff members are awarded the Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award. This year, six University staff members were honored with the award during a ceremony at the Jack Breslin Student Event Center on May 20. Each recipient - in addition to being presented with the award by MSU President, Lou Anna K. Simon - also receives $2,500.
In order to be considered for such a prestigious award, a staff member must be nominated by a co-worker. Tom Matt, a telephone mechanic II in Telecommunication Systems, put out the word and gathered others to support his nomination of Mary Beth LaForgia.
LaForgia works for Telecom as a planner inspector analyst II (PIA) where she addresses the needs of both the customers and the technicians. As a PIA, LaForgia goes all over campus and meet lots of people every day. When she visits the different departments, she reviews the telephone system and decides if they need a new one and then helps them find the best one. She has been working at the Physical Plant for 21 years. LaForgia is the first person from the Telecom to ever receive the Jack Breslin award.
Before the award ceremony, a selection committee gathers all the nominations and deliberates on all the candidates and narrows it down to who they believe show a number of qualities including overall excellence and supportive attitude.
Once the final decision has been made, a winner from the previous year presents this year's winners with the thrilling news. Johanna James, who happens to be a friend of LaForgia's and a 2007 winner, called LaForgia to make sure she was in her office. James delivered the envelope informing her of the award in person. At first, LaForgia couldn't believe it but - since the Telecommunications office isn't very large - everyone around her already knew. The first few minutes were filled with excitement and congratulations from her co-workers.
Finally, the time came to attend the award ceremony. At the reception, every winner had a reserved table with their picture on it. The winners also brought items to place on the tables to represent themselves. LaForgia's table included pictures of the different departments she has worked with and dolls which she makes by hand.
The event included President Simon speaking and introducing the award recipients. The highlight of the entire event was when, right before LaForgia was announced, her mother and sister walked in. She didn't think that either of them would even be able to attend the occasion, but they were able to witness her accepting the award.
Having her family present made the award ceremony, recognizing her 40 years of hard work in customer service, even more special.