Virginia Tech recognizes employees for 15,530 years of combined service

Virginia Tech is recognizing greater than 841 staff for his or her dedication to service and for exemplifying the college motto, Ut Prosim (That I Could Serve). Collectively, these staff have devoted 15,530 years of service to the college.

Recognition occasions occurred March 29-April 14.

“Recognizing greater than 15,000 years of service is outstanding, and so are the people we rejoice for reaching these notable milestones,” stated Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “The dedication and dedication of our staff is the muse of Virginia Tech’s success.”

“We owe a lot to the loyalty and dedication of our staff,” stated Vice President for Human Assets Bryan Garey. “Virginia Tech advantages from their data and the lengthy tenure of service they supply. They’re actually the spine of Virginia Tech.”

The service recognition program acknowledges staff’ service to the college in five-year increments, starting at 10 years. Of the staff acknowledged this yr, 92 have served Virginia Tech for 35 years or extra, representing greater than 3,535 years of mixed service.

Staff with 25 or extra years of service obtained an etched Hokie Stone, a logo of energy and stability. The stone displays the foundational dedication of every worker. Beginning at 40 years of service, staff obtain a Hokie Stone personalised with their title and years of service.

Three staff have been acknowledged for 50 years of service: Betty Higginbotham from the School of Science; Steven Lowe, who not too long ago retired from the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and Joseph Pitt, professor emeritus of philosophy. Collectively, they mark 150 years of service, a becoming complete throughout the college’s one hundred and fiftieth anniversary.

Betty Higginbotham started her profession at Virginia Tech working for the Middle for Environmental Research within the biology division. Within the late Eighties, she moved to the Division of Statistics, the place she nonetheless works as a senior program help technician.

Higginbotham has seen massive adjustments at Virginia Tech. Her job included utilizing a handbook typewriter and carbon paper to make copies, taking shorthand, and utilizing a Dictaphone. She has made many good buddies on campus. “I deal with all people with respect, and it pays off,” she stated.

Steven Lowe joined Virginia Tech in 1972 as a laboratory technician within the Division of Anaerobic Microbiology, which has since merged into the biochemistry division. He later grew to become a laboratory mechanic.

“It’s actually enjoyable working with graduate college students,” he stated. “You find out about what they’re doing. You study so many processes.” Since his retirement, he misses the folks probably the most. “I can at all times discover a machine to work on at dwelling.” He additionally values the school members he labored with. “They’re world-class, sensible folks,” he stated. “You study a lot.”

Joseph Pitt got here to Virginia Tech in 1971 as an teacher, reaching the rank of professor in 1983. The bodily campus has modified an incredible deal since his arrival.

“The quantity of constructing occurring proper now’s mind-blowing,” he stated. One factor that has remained regular, nonetheless, is his affection for his college students. “They see Virginia Tech as a giant household, and that’s the reason speaking about Virginia Tech as dwelling makes a lot sense,” he stated.

All staff obtained a service lapel pin and certificates. A redesigned web site exhibits staff acknowledged this yr.

The Service Recognition Program’s time interval is April 1 of the earlier yr by means of March 31 of the present yr.