CWU Announces 2003 Employee Of The Year

May 19, 2004

Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: loweryr@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- James Thomson, engineering technician in the Central Washington University psychology department, has been named the university's 2003 "employee of the year."

Recognized through the Civil Service Employee Recognition Program, Thomson will receive a plaque and a $1,500 check from the CWU Foundation at the university's spring honors convocation Friday, June 11.

Thomson, who has been a university staff member for more than 35 years, was selected from among the monthly winners for the annual award.

Those nominating Thomson noted:

• "He has orchestrated the design and done the building of much of the department's instructional technology infrastructure";
• "He always has a smile on his face and a lively step ... A day doesn't go by that he isn't pleasant to everyone he is in contact with";
• "He is a team player and consistently looks out for our department's best interests"; and,
• "He is responsible for making sure that each faculty and staff person has the necessary and appropriate computer equipment in order to perform their job to the best of their ability."

The recognition program was initiated in 1997 as a way to recognize outstanding employees who foster a personalized environment that supports members of the university community as well as the university's mission.

The award was created to recognize employees who go "above and beyond the call of duty," offer unique contributions to their work unit and/or the university as a whole, have a significant positive impact on those they work with or come in contact with, and consistently perform for the betterment of CWU.

University students, faculty and staff, as well as Ellensburg community members, are eligible to make nominations - either signed or anonymously - for employees of the month.

Nomination forms are available from the CWU human resources office and employee council representatives. For more information about the program call (509) 963-1202, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.