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from the issue of July 14, 2005
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Business and Finance honors after-hours dedication with EEVACS awards
Foursome aids actors
BY TROY FEDDERSON, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
As the curtain closed on the annual International Thespian Festival at UNL last month, the journey home for a troupe of Baltimore teens opened with elements of a classical tragedy.
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| | | EEVACS AWARDS - For helping a troupe of Baltimore youth return home from the International Thespian Festival four members of Parking and Transit Services were presented with EEVACS awards by Christine Jackson, vice chancellor for business and finance on July 14. Pictured, from left, are: Pat Barrett, director of transportation services; Ron Fuller, coordinator for transit and special events; Jackson; and drivers Terry Homer and Andy Wright. Photo by Troy Fedderson/University Communications.
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However, through the after-hours assistance of four UNL employees - all of whom were honored with EEVACS awards from the Division of Business and Finance - the thespians' return to Maryland became a minor adventure, highlighted by a late-night jaunt to Kansas City.
As they prepared on June 25 for an UNL-aided transport to the Lincoln Amtrak station the next morning, sponsors of the Baltimore group learned that a derailment and subsequent rockslide in Colorado would cause their train a delay of at least 14 hours. In follow-up conversations with Amtrak officials, the sponsors learned their tickets would be honored if the troupe could get to Kansas City by 7:45 a.m.
Stranded in Lincoln without any transportation the thespians attempted to charter a bus locally. When that failed, they decided to contact university officials. The Saturday evening call was routed to Scott Beggs, a sergeant with UNL police, who in turn contacted Ron Fuller, transit and events coordinator for parking services, shortly before 7:30 p.m.
"I told Scott to give them my home phone number and have them call me," Fuller said. "They didn't know where to turn for help and asked me if we could do anything."
As university buses are barred from crossing state lines, Fuller asked the sponsors for a little time and began to work the phones from his end. He contacted Pat Barrett, director of transportation services, to see if any vans were available for travel.
Not knowing for sure, Barrett drove to the transportation services depot. Thirty minutes after the Fuller received the first call, Barrett was at work getting two vans ready for the thespians.
While Barrett serviced the vehicles and filled out paper work, Fuller went back to the phones and recruited two drivers. He said it took only three phone calls, the first of which was to an answering machine, followed by two quick affirmatives from drivers Terry Homer and Andy Wright.
"This just shows you the kind of people that we have working here at UNL," Fuller said. "Especially when I'm able to call them up at 9:30 at night on a weekend and have them say, 'sure, no problem.'
"You just couldn't ask for better people."
The drivers picked up the thespians around 2 a.m. Sunday and transported them to the Amtrak depot in Kansas City with time to spare. From that point on, the group's trip home was uneventful.
"One of the sponsors called and let me know how thankful they were," Fuller said. "I just told him we make sure that the people who use our services are taken care of. We'll do whatever it takes to accomplish what they want."
UNL Housing, which organizes the summer conference program, was also thankful of the extra effort.
"We are truly appreciative of the exemplary customer service provided by Ron Fuller and his staff," said Lesley Esters, manager of summer conferences. "This is a testament to the commitment Ron and his team have to providing outstanding customer service."
On Monday of the following workweek, Fuller thanked Barrett, Homer and Wright, but felt like they deserved a little more attention. He passed the story along to Kim Phelps, associate vice chancellor in business and finance, who then forwarded the information to Christine Jackson, vice chancellor for business and finance.
For their efforts, Fuller, Barrett, Homer and Wright all received EEVACS awards on Wednesday. The award was created by Melvin Jones, who served as vice chancellor of business and finance prior to Jackson's tenure. The award is for UNL employees whose ideas or actions make things more efficient or more effective and result in value added or cost savings for the university.
"This award is reserved for exceptional individuals that set a great standard for the rest of the university community," Phelps said. "This case is a great example of the kinds of committed people we have around the university."
GO TO: ISSUE OF JULY 14
NEWS HEADLINES FOR JULY 14
Foursome aids actors
Bombings fail to halt UNL travels
Museum celebrates gift with Discovery Center renovation
University makes switch to alternative fuels
A Piece of University History
Milliken lauds Unicameral commitment to NU
OLLI program fosters lifelong learning
Tractor museum continues work toward pulling its own weight
University dedicates new research facility
UNL delegation presents book to tribes
UNL, UNMC join forces for Bio 2005 convention
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