Faculty and staff in the Faculty of Engineering yesterday celebrated the awarding of the new Veronicka Czerneda Staff Award for Outstanding Service.

Dean Mo Elbestawi announced that the inaugural recipient is Anna Sciascetti, administrative assistant in the dean's office.

Sciascetti has been a full-time employee for the past 12 years.

The staff award was formerly launched last spring by former engineering dean Mamdouh Shoukri, in memory of Veronika Czerneda, administrative co-ordinator in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering, who died in July 2000.

Engineering faculty spearheaded a fundraising campaign to create an endowment for a staff award that would be given in honour of Czerneda's many years of service. The award is to go to a staff member who made an outstanding contribution to the Faculty.

Three of the eight nominations received this year nominated Sciascetti.

As well as a framed citation, Sciascetti received $500 from the interest earned on a $10,000 endowment fund established from the fundraising campaign.

Eighty-four donors, including alumni, faculty, staff, family and friends, contributed to the endowment fund.

Sciascetti's 14 nominators wanted her to know her work and her approach to the job are highly valued.

“We see it only fitting to honour Anna in this very special way and to send a message to her that her efforts have definitely not gone unnoticed,” one nominating letter said.

A second letter noted, “Anna is blessed with an exceptionally cheerful disposition and it's always uplifting to pass her in the hallways as she goes about her responsibilities.”

Award Winner: Anna Sciascetti and Phil Czerneda hold the plaque marking the new Veronicka Czerneda Staff Award for Outstanding Service.

Photo by Barb Owen