Three University of New Mexico employees are winners of the 2004 Gerald W. May Staff Recognition Award. UNM President Louis Caldera recognized the winners during a recent ceremony and presented a new plaque listing all recipients.
Photo (l. to r.): Laurie Mellas Ramirez, Lorraine Gutierrez and Sandrea Gonzales were recipients of the 2004 Gerald W. May Staff Recognition award. Staff Council President Steve Borbas, back, was the emcee for the event.
The 2004 recipients each received $500. Since its 1991 inception, 53 employees have received the award. Co-workers nominate employees each year. The award was created through the generosity of Gerald May, past UNM president.
Recipient Sandrea Gonzales has worked for the Women’s Resource Center for 14 years and served as director for five years. She created and raised funds for the Single Mothers Scholarship that will be awarded in 2005.
In nominating Gonzales, a co-worker stated, “Sandrea exudes qualities of professionalism, reliability, wisdom and untiring commitment to diversity and socially-conscious progress.”
Lorraine Guttierrez has coordinated events for 20 years at University House, the on-campus home of UNM presidents. She has assisted five presidential families in event planning and hosting. She began her career with little knowledge of cooking and since then has learned to cook most anything. Gutierrez works closely with president’s families on details of hosting special events. She has organized functions for movie stars, senators, governors, and numerous UNM regents, faculty, staff and students.
Laurie Mellas Ramirez is a senior public affairs representative, editor of Campus News and responsible for creation of a UNM expert’s guide for news media. Mellas Ramirez founded the work/life committee to provide more flexibility to employees as they balance work with outside responsibilities.
Her nomination by a co-worker states, “She spotlights the University’s many accomplishments, as well as championing the countless, dedicated UNM employees.”
Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816