June

The June 2004 Fish Award Winner is Jan Benjamin.
Here's what Jan's co-workers had to say...

I would like to nominate Jan Benjamin for the "Catch of the Month". As Science Lab Manager, Jan was responsible for coordinating the move of all the biology, chemistry and geology labs from the old Science building to the new HSB building. This was a monumental task but she handled it expertly and kept a smile on her and everyone else's faces during the whole process.

There were over 800 boxes to be packed, safely transported and then unpacked. Boxes arrived late; there were not enough boxes sent for all of the items; some items would not fit in the boxes that were sent. But Jan kept smiling and finding solutions. It seemed that she thought of the move as a game to win rather than a chore or drudgery.

Then shelves had to be assembled and organized and drawers to be labelled and filled. Jan divided up the tasks and worked with student assistants to complete the move over the May break. I walked in one day and everyone was busily working and singing along with the radio and appeared to be having a fun time. As usual, I needed something. I had to have some charts and models to be used in an interview the next day. Jan stopped what she was doing, laughed and offered to go on a "treasure hunt" for the required items. We found the charts and she promised to have the models by the next morning. She not only found them by the next morning, but set them up in the room where they were needed for interviews!

During a "normal" semester if there is a problem in the lab class, Jan will cease whatever she is doing to help solve that problem whether it be preparing additional solutions, finding materials, repairing equipment or whatever. She makes the students and student learning her number one priority. In addition she is always supportive of faculty needs.

I believe that Jan is very deserving of the "Catch of the Month" award as she personifies the 4 principles of the FISH philosophy - Play, Be There, Make their Day and Choose your Attitude.