November 14, 2006: Karen Sikes, Administrative Secretary for the Communication department, is awarded the College's Staff Professional Achievement Award (SPAA).

A summary of the nomination on her behalf reads:

“I write to nominate Karen Sikes for the Staff Professional Achievement Award (SPAA).  Karen consistently performs very well in her role of administrative secretary for the Communication Department, but over the past several months she has repeatedly gone above and beyond the call of duty and been of exceptional service to the department.“

Duties considered especially meritorious by Dr. Adams include:

• Assisting the Center for Dispute Resolution with administrative support, including purchasing and budgeting, as well as clerical support.
• Adapting to changes in accounting and purchasing procedures.
• Assisting faculty “with everything from procurement to travel to class management.”
• Serving students with a special affinity “while maintaining a professional distance and appreciation for policies and procedures.”
• Special events, particularly COM Week.
• Student and alumni relations, which includes “maintaining current databases on [COM’s] alumni and communicating regularly via email with students.”

“In sum, Karen is an excellent administrative secretary and in recent months has been called on to do even more.”  

  -- Carey Adams, Head of Communication Department

Congratulations and well done, Karen!