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NIU Office of Public Affairs


News Release

Contact: Mark McGowan, NIU Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-9472

April 20, 2004

NIU Supportive Professional Staff announces
recipients of Presidential Awards for Excellence

DeKalb — Four members of the Supportive Professional Staff (SPS) have been chosen to receive the university's Presidential Awards for Excellence.

The recipients are Shevawn Eaton, director of ACCESS; Len Lennergard, video production manager in Media Services; Judith Pokorny, assistant to the undergraduate director in the Department of English, and Phillip Young, research associate in the Department of Geography.

They will be honored at a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. today in the Clara Sperling Sky Room in the Holmes Student Center. Each will receive a plaque and $1,500 in appreciation for their outstanding contributions to NIU.

Refreshments will be served, and the reception is open to all.

Additionally, the Gary Gray Award will be presented to Bev Espe, assistant director of Health Services and president of the SPS Council, and Michael J. Spires, coordinator for recruitment and public relations in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The award, based on service to the SPS Council, honors the late Gary Gray, a past member of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences advising staff and the SPS Council.

Shevawn Eaton

Shevawn Eaton is proud of ACCESS.

Eaton came to NIU in 1993, when ACCESS was a small program that provided tutoring services exclusively to a few hundred CHANCE students.

She enhanced the professionalism of the program, bringing in staff who were experts in the field of tutoring and supplemental instruction. She and her staff present across the country, and their work has achieved greater national recognition through her leadership in national organizations.

Eaton also founded a chapter of a national honor society for CHANCE-type students that is now one of the country's largest.

In 1997, she initiated the first campuswide tutoring center on campus in partnership with Student Housing and Dining. She won $150,000 in state funding in 1999 to expand services. In 2002-03, ACCESS broke its own record for service to students, including 7,045 hours of tutoring and 8,653 hours of support.

Her annual analysis of data relating to every aspect of the work of CHANCE students "has grown in depth and sophistication," said Robert T. Self, chair of the English Department. "The information greatly enhances our understanding of who the students are, how they perceive themselves, and how they perform in the university, and that understanding greatly helps all of us achieve our goals on behalf of these students."

Len Lennergard

In a business where deadlines are everything, Len Lennergard knows no fear.

Hired in 2000, Lennergard stares all tight deadlines in the face before beating them head-on with products that seem anything but rushed, often at the uncompensated expense of his personal time nights and weekends.

Melanie Magara, assistant vice president for public affairs, enlisted Lennergard's assistance to make an impact U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert visited campus.

"Len created, in less than 48 hours, a video tribute that literally moved Speaker Hastert to tears," Magara said. "I don't think it is possible to overestimate the contribution to this university of such an impression on the third most powerful political leader in the country."

Hastert has good company. "Len gives of his talents and energy equally whether it involves a national leader, a valued alumnus, a retiring professor, an obscure visiting speaker or a Northern student," said Gordon Means, director of Media Services.

Lennergard's work also earns kudos when the clock's not involved.

"His work compares favorably with some of the best in PBS and NOVA educational programs," said sociology Professor George A. Kourvetaris. "Mr. Lennergard is the kind of craftsman who goes the extra mile to satisfy many clients and manages to do that with enthusiasm, professionalism and leadership."

Judith Pokorny

How many NIU staff can claim a mention in the same sentence as Mark Twain?

An undergraduate English student embarking on his student-teaching wrote this of Judith Pokorny:

"To borrow the words of Mark Twain, Ms. Pokorny has never let my schooling interfere with my education. Throughout my time as an English major and teacher certification candidate, she has given me the courage and confidence to persevere when academic days looked dark. Her humble, unpretentious demeanor and generous spirit belie a deadly wit and iron disposition. Bless her."

A "patient" and "caring" NIU alumna who joined the university in 1985, Pokorny bears the primary responsibility for the advisement of 500 English majors and many minors. As coordinator of teacher certification, she organizes admission procedures, arranges placement of student teachers, advises all certification students and maintains their files.

She also serves on committees responsible for curriculum revision and development.

"The depth of her knowledge of the department and the program, her broad institutional experience, her attention to detail and her wisdom, pragmatism and maturity were invaluable to me," said Robert T. Self, chair of the English Department. Meanwhile, Self said, "her patience, her calm, matter-of-fact, no-nonsense demeanor, and her sense of humor reassure even the most anxious, demanding and insecure students."

Phillip Young

If you build it, Phil Young will map it.

Young, an NIU employee since 1993, designed and developed NIU's new Campus Web Map, using software donated by Intergraph Corp.

He and his assistant, Rick Schwantes, spent scores of hours, including personal time, to develop databases, verify names and locations of campus features, conducting GPS surveying of recent campus construction and locating everything from doorways and emergency call boxes to bus stops and bike racks.

"The new Campus Web Map puts NIU at the forefront of providing accessibility and security information," said Andrew J. Krmenec, chair of the Department of Geography.

"Phil's vision for the institution and ability to see a unique application of modern technology to improve the university have resulted in a significant contribution to NIU," Vice Provost Earl "Gip" Seaver said. "Clearly, our students, campus visitors and others will view NIU as an innovator and a friendlier place to navigate."

Young maintains his department's computers and manages the teaching labs. He has initiated and managed more than $1.5 million in contracts and grants, engaging more than 30 students for paid internships through these projects.

He also has provided pro bono services to the Northern Illinois Regional Food Bank by developing poverty concentration maps and Food Bank location maps.

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