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Faculty and Staff Honored for Merit and Service
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USF honors faculty and staff, including individual Merit Award winners Michael Ong (top), Christin Anderson (center), and Ginny Wallace (bottom).
| Outstanding faculty and staff were recognized for their dedicated service and accomplishments at the 32nd annual Merit and Service Awards at the University of San Francisco May 12.
The theme of the celebration, "Green is Gold," was drawn from the university's colors dating back to the time when USF and St. Ignatius High School went their separate ways - green symbolizing the lush vegetation in the area and gold the autumn leaves. Put in a more modern context for the ceremony, green was said to symbolize USF's work to improve its environmental stewardship, and gold the value of the good work undertaken by faculty and staffing this and other fields.
Top individual Merit Award winners - those demonstrating the highest standards of professionalism, personal achievement, and dedication to USF as expressed in service, creativity, and innovation - included Michael Ong, associate director for central system infrastructure and technology support, ITS, Christin Anderson, well-life program manager, and Ginny Wallace, distance learning instructional designer for the Center for Instruction and Technology and technology support.
The Team Merit Award went to a panel that put together the student essay journal Writing for A Real World.
"It is important for us as a university community to stop, if only once a year, and remind ourselves that USF is first and foremost people - faculty and staff who individually and collectively embody our core values and advance our mission of educating minds and hearts to change the world," said USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. in his introductory remarks, before handing out the awards.
Ong was honored with a Merit Award for his response to faculty and staff technology needs and ability to oversee a symphony of 25 systems. So impressive are his capabilities that Gonzaga University consults with him so that it can learn how to improve its technology operations. "Whether designing an authentication system or retrieving lost archival files, his solutions are impeccable, innovative, and tailored to the customer's needs and level of knowledge," said Archie Porter, award presenter and senior associate dean for Academic and Enrollment Services.
Anderson was singled out for her leadership in motivating USF employees to be healthy, happy, and prosperous by aiding many to lose weight, and for encouraging numerous others to dance, run, and walk hundreds of miles. "Her programs have helped the university become a role model in the area of corporate wellness programs," Porter said.
Wallace was recognized for her dedication to growing the university's distance learning system. Her work resulted in the expansion of the Internet-based Blackboard software system from 200 courses in fall 2003 to more than 1,000 by spring 2008. The growth is a direct result of her personal one-on-one sessions with faculty, often after hours or on weekends, in small group settings, Porter said.
The Team Merit Award went to a panel that read and reviewed more than 100 student essays, choosing from among them for inclusion in the journal Writing for A Real World. Team members included David Ryan, Brian Dempster, Mark Merritt, Devon Holmes, David Holler, Elizabeth Heim, and Theresa Newman.
For her work as director of USF's Upward Bound program Janice Dirden-Cook was recognized with the Fr. William Dunne Award, an award reserved for staff who demonstrate excellence to USF, the community-at-large through creativity, and service and innovation beyond the scope of their regular job duties.
The Sarlo Prize went to Scott McElwain, politics professor and chair of the international studies program, for excellence in teaching which exemplifies the ethical principles that inform USF's vision, mission, and values.
Associate professor and chair of exercise and sport science Jeremy Howell took home the Ignatian Service Award for his exceptional commitment to the service of his students, USF, and the community-at-large.
Business Professor Dayle Smith won the Service-Learning Award for her work developing service-learning opportunities for USF students.
The CIT Award, honoring faculty or staff who have demonstrated excellent use of technology in education, went to full-time associate professor of media studies David Silver. The part-time CIT Award went to Charlene Lobo Soriano, associate director of Academic and Support Services and director of the Learning Center.
For service, USF mail handler Raymond Luke was recognized with a standing ovation for his 45 years at USF. In addition, more than 160 others were recognized for their time at the university ranging from five to 40 years. 
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