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August 2003

Excellence follows Gabor Award winners

By Amy Parmelee
Staff Writer

Winners of this year's Gabor Awards for Employee Excellence are Donna Rawlins (left) for A&P and Maxine Eugenia Muschamp for USPS.

The rain stopped falling on a June afternoon just in time to allow members of the University community to gather in the Library's atrium to honor this year's Gabor Award for Employee Excellence winners - Maxine Eugenia
Muschamp for USPS and Donna Rawlins
for A&P.

Muschamp, who was the runner-up for the award last year, has worked eight years in the Department of English and Foreign Languages.

"It doesn't seem that long to me," Muschamp said. "I truly do enjoy coming to work every day. The people in this department keep my interest level high. Being part of the daily process of bringing ideas and students together gives me a sense of purpose. I would wish anyone to be as fortunate in their career."

She joined UNF in 1983 as an administrative assistant in the Institute of Police Technology
and Management and transferred in 1987 to the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs. Her time there was short, leaving within a year to marry and travel with her husband's business. She also worked some as a grant coordinator with the College of Education and Human Services and the College of Health.

Muschamp, who graduated from UNF with a bachelor's in literature, was pleased to get her position in the Department of English and Foreign Languages.

"Being privy to bits and pieces of stimulating conversations woven into the day's projects is one of the major perks for me," she said.

"I've always been proud to say that I work at UNF, and when I do I'm hoping that I am someone of whom the university staff will be proud - someone who is an example of how higher learning, at whatever age, can enrich one's life in untold ways," she said.

UNF has enriched the life of Rawlins for the last 31 years. Rawlins began working at UNF in July 1972 and managed the campus bookstore for the first 18 years. As coordinator of Auxiliary Services, she now manages the University Ticket Box Office, the OspreyCard ID Office, Pay for Print Operation and the Educational Community Credit Union contracts.

Rawlins enjoys the varied duties she has and appreciates how the staff goes beyond department boundaries to help each other.

"The close networking and exchange of ideas has moved UNF forward and helped make it the great university it is today," she said.

"There are so many A&P members that deserve this special award," she added.
Rawlins said one of the most rewarding aspects of her time at UNF has been "being a part of a 'team' that has the best interest of the University at heart."

The runner-ups for the Gabor awards were Jo Mobley of Career Services for USPS and Kathy Hughes of Information Technology Services for A&P.
Those recognized receive a plaque and cash award. The A&P winner also receives a reserved parking space.