Outstanding Staff Recognized With Awards  

Ona Underhill

UNDERHILL’S DEDICATION RECOGNIZED
WITH THIS YEAR’S MCELHINNEY AWARD

In 1964, the Beatles took the world by storm, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Yankees in the World Series, and Lyndon Baines Johnson was elected U.S. President. It also was the year Ona Underhill began her career with the University of Houston.

Underhill, this year’s recipient of the C.F. McElhinney Distinguished Service Award, has seen many changes at UH since her arrival on campus. One thing, however, has remained consistent -- her dedication to both her department and the university.

“I like where I work,” said Underhill, department business administrator for finance and operations in the Plant Operations Department. “I like being around people in this department because they work so hard. There are always challenges, and there is always something new to learn.”

Underhill lived in the Houston area prior to joining the UH staff. Thanks to a tip from the Texas Employment Commission, she secured her first job at the university as a clerk for the physical plant.

Since then, Underhill’s administrative talents have been tapped for a variety of tasks in her department. From serving as a secretary to manager of personnel and training to her current role as a business administrator, Underhill’s ability to work in multiple roles has made her an asset to the university.

Her current position requires Underhill to oversee many of her department’s financial responsibilities including purchase requisitions, accounting and billing.

“Her dedication to her job and the university has been outstanding,” said Clif Rapier, director of finance and operations. “Her work ethic is without equal. She sets only the highest standards for herself and has been instrumental in finding better ways for Plant Operations to serve the university.”

Rapier added that Underhill has been instrumental in upgrading a work order system that allows for more efficient service and that she always involved in helping streamline department processes.

“She’s beginning her 40th year at UH. I don’t believe that there is another staff member who has given more of herself to help the university succeed in its mission,” he said.

As this year’s McElhinney honoree, Underhill will receive a plaque and $2,500.

Just as UH has benefited from her many years on staff, Underhill herself feels indebted to her department and to the university. When she was looking for a job 40 years ago, she never thought she’d work for a university. Now, she could not imagine life without working at such an institution.

“I have a position of responsibility and I appreciate that,” Underhill said. “This university is a great place to work, and I think I happen to be in the right department for me.”

Pamela Forbes

FORBES LENDS HELPING HAND TO
OPTOMETRY FACULTY, STUDENTS

Pamela Forbes loves to help students.

As the library supervisor for the College of Optometry’s Weston A. Pettey Library, Forbes particularly enjoys assisting students with research projects.

“It is wonderful to interact with both students and faculty,” she said. “Plus, I love library work. My favorite part of my job is when students have projects, and I can help them get started on research or show them how to utilize the library.”

Forbes’ career at UH began in 1977 when she joined the M.D. Anderson Library staff. For 19 years, she devoted her time to that library’s growth. In 1997, she brought her skills to the Pettey Library and has been pleased to offer them to even more students and to work alongside coworkers.

“The people I work with are like family to me,” she said. “After working for so long in two areas of the university, it’s like I have two families on campus now.”

Forbes’ coworkers feel the same about her and have been quick to note her dedication to her job and the optometry faculty and students.

“She is a diligent and careful worker who has a passion for her job and the college,” said William L. Miller, assistant professor of optometry. “She is always willing to help, whether it is retrieving a book or tracking down an article.”

Sharon Gates

GATES HAS THE RIGHT COMBINATION

Sharon Gates brings the right blend of patience, wisdom, a sense of humor and dedication to her position in the University of Houston Department of Chemical Engineering.

That winning combination earned Gates the 2004 Staff Excellence Award.

“I really didn’t think I would ever win a Staff Excellence Award,” Gates said. “The university is so large, and I always thought that there are so many other people more deserving than me.”

Gates, assistant adviser 2, began her 20-year tenure at UH in 1983 after her husband was laid off from his job. Then a stay-at-home mother, Gates started job hunting in what she describes as a bad economy. To her surprise, she received two job offers on the same day.

“One job was at UH and the other was as a secretary for a liquor distributor. I thought both places would probably not lay off, but I really thought UH would be a nice place to work,” Gates said jokingly.

Gates accepted the university’s job offer and has been in the same position at the chemical engineering department ever since. For the past 15 years, she has advised hundreds of students. Her other responsibilities include scheduling classes, maintaining student records, organizing and participating in student recruitment and assisting in graduation ceremonies.

Johnnie King

AN AWARD FIT FOR A KING

Dependability, friendliness earn labor supervisor Staff Excellence Award

Ask his co-workers what they like most about Johnnie King, and they’ll say it’s his smile.

Ask his supervisors what they like about his job performance, and they’ll say it is his willingness to go the extra mile.

In fact, anyone who knows the University of Houston labor supervisor 1 in the Department of Plant Operations has nothing but good things to say about King.

“Johnnie’s overall attitude toward work and helping others portrays an employee that enjoys life and his job,” said Jacquelyn Williams, executive secretary for the Office of the Board of Regents. “His friendly nature generally attracts people who need his services and makes them friends. We are blessed to have him at this institution.”

From moving furniture to training employees to inspecting tools and equipment, King has remained loyal to the university since 1992. He credits his co-workers with making UH a wonderful place to work.

“I wouldn’t have received this award if it weren’t for everyone I work with,” King said. “We work as a team in my department. I love my job, and it feels good to get this recognition, but I have to give credit to all my co-workers.”

Gretta Ott

OTT’S COMMITMENT LEADS TO AWARD

Greta Ott’s love for the University of Houston keeps her coming to campus even after 15 years of employment.

An Office Assistant II in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Ott couldn’t imagine working anywhere but UH.

“It’s not like working in private industry,” Ott said. “We have a higher purpose. We are working to educate our future teachers and leaders. I feel I am working for the good of America and our children.”

Her commitment to the university and her excellent work performance are two reasons Ott received a 2004 Staff Excellence Award.

“I knew I had been nominated in March, but I didn’t know I had won. I was totally surprised,” Ott said.

According to her nominator, Ott juggles multiple duties, including purchasing office supplies, planning, budgeting and interfacing with vendors and accounts payable. She also has streamlined departmental purchasing and record-keeping procedures and has volunteered for Cougar First Impressions. Despite her many responsibilities, Ott enjoys her work.

“I love working here,” she said. “I think it is wonderful that the University rewards its’ employees who do a good job and enjoy what they do.”

Charles Snow

WHEN IT COMES TO HARD WORK, SNOW IS UNSTOPPABLE

His supervisors say he works so hard they can’t keep up. So, it was no surprise that Charles Snow was named one of this year’s recipients of the University of Houston’s Staff Excellence Awards.

Snow, a heating/ventilation/air conditioning mechanic in the Department of Residential Life and Housing, has been praised by his supervisors for his innovative skills and superior abilities. A staff member for 12 years, Snow has been called a genius when it comes to working with sheet metal. But, he remains humble.

“I enjoy the variety of work I do here at UH,” Snow said. “I love my job and am always looking for more work. I just can’t stop. I have to keep myself busy.”

One of Snow’s crowning achievements during his time at UH has been the creation of a fleet of five dependable vehicles for the department. When he heard that another department on campus planned to discard the vehicles, Snow stepped in and made them usable for Residential Life and Housing. His quick thinking saved the university thousands of dollars.

Snow also participated in designing a trash chute deodorizing and sanitizing process that made Moody Towers a healthier place to live.

“Charles Snow’s work ethic is second to none,” said Andy Blank, the department’s executive director. “This highly competent, hardworking, skillful, innovative staff member is truly representative of what the words ‘Staff Excellence’ mean.”

Patti Tolar

EDUCATION TOP PRIORITY FOR MAGNER AWARD RECIPIENT

Just as University of Houston seniors look forward to donning their black caps and gowns, Patti Tolar also anxiously awaits commencement.

As the Department of Psychology’s academic adviser, Tolar measures her success by seeing the students she’s counseled complete their degrees.

“Every year, I get much joy from watching students graduate,” said Tolar, staff recipient of this year’s George Magner Staff Excellence Award for Advising. “Sometimes, I have students who have to wait an extra year before they walk across the stage, and I try to work with them to speed that up. My door is always open and I’m always here.”

According to Tolar, education is a vital aspect of everyone’s life and being able to help others in their quest for knowledge makes for a rewarding career.

It also has been conducive to achieving her personal academic goals. Tolar received a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Houston – Clear Lake and a master of science in community and college counseling from Longwood University.

She joined the UH staff in 1997 as an academic advisor for the School of Communication. Since then, she has strived to maintain a sense of familiarity with the changing policies and curricula of UH’s colleges. Such awareness has enhanced Tolar’s ability to effectively guide students through their degree plans and toward success.

“There’s a feeling of pure happiness I get when I see students realize their goals,” she said. “From the moment that I arrived at UH, I could sense that everyone felt this way. There are many graduates who are the first ones in their family to receive degrees. I am able to see this joy firsthand. I couldn’t do that anywhere else.”

Amanda Vaughan

PROBLEM-SOLVING A SPECIALTY FOR
ACADEMIC ADVISOR VAUGHAN

When students in the University of Houston’s Department of Computer Science need a guiding hand, they need look no further than Amanda Vaughan.

Vaughan, a graduate academic adviser in the Department of Computer Science, is there for students before they even attend their first graduate class. From prospective graduate students to those seeking doctoral degrees students, she’s there to provide counsel regarding academic programs, curricula, administrative procedures and international student policies.

“I like problem-solving,” she said. “When students have a situation that may complicate their class schedule or degree plan, I like the challenge of helping them achieve their dreams and goals.”

Vaughan joined the university in 1989 right after a stint teaching English as a second language in China. That experience left her eager to work with international students, and her career at UH has allowed her to do just that.

Such a zest for working with others has not gone unnoticed by coworkers and certainly not by students, who are most appreciative of her efforts.

“When deciding what university to attend for my graduate studies, I decided to call each school,” said Catherine Putonti, a doctoral student in the Department of Computer Science. “After speaking with Ms. Vaughan for two hours, I knew that UH was the place for me. She presented me with the benefits and drawbacks of attending UH and put me in contact with several current students and professors to further formulate my opinion. My story is not unique. She is just as dedicated to each and every student.”