UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 09 | May 10, 2001

Six standouts to receive service excellence awards

Recipients contribute the extra that makes a difference

Six members of the university community will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to UBC and campus life as recipients of this year's President Service Award for Excellence.

Each recipient will receive a gold medal and $5,000 in a presentation during Spring Congregation ceremonies.

As director of the Women's Resources Centre (WRC) for the past 24 years, Ruth Sigal has led a community resource that assists more than 25,000 clients annually through educational programs and drop-in counselling.

Sigal is directly responsible for volunteer and staff co-ordination, program development, teaching, and community outreach. She will oversee the centre's move to Robson Square later this year.

Vicki Koulouris joined UBC's Faculty of Dentistry in 1974 and shortly after became graduate secretary in the division of Graduate and Postgraduate Studies.

Koulouris is renowned for her willingness to serve all manner of students' needs, for her role in attracting top graduate students, and as a tireless community volunteer.

Roseanne McIndoe has worked as a research technician for the Faculty of Medicine for the past 36 years.

She is also an active volunteer for the Crane Library as a reader of Braille books, the health sciences representative on the UBC United Way Campaign committee and the organizer of the Health Sciences United Way Pancake Breakfast.

Ben Clifford agreed to a one-year term as a technician for undergraduate chemistry laboratories in 1967, after which he planned to travel the world.

Thirty-four years later he is lab director in Analytical and Physical Chemistry, and revered by faculty and students alike as a technician who goes far beyond the call of duty to assist students.

Sharon Walker has worked at the UBC Bookstore for more than 22 years, most recently as warehouse manager. Throughout her career, she has been admired for her concern for staff and colleagues' well-being.

She particularly enjoys co-ordinating the regalia for Congregation ceremonies, ensuring that each graduate is properly fitted and injecting humour and encouragement to warm them up for the big event.

Throughout his 33 years at UBC, Anatomy Prof. Chuck Slonecker has served on an endless list of committees, including the selection committee for the President's Service Awards for Excellence.

This year, the committee, in his absence, recommended him for the award as the epitome of the selfless public servant.

As director of Ceremonies and University Relations since 1990, he has presided over countless functions on the university's behalf and is a familiar figure to thousands of students at Congregation.