Five devoted staff members were honored April 27 with Presidential Awards for Staff Excellence at St. Bonaventure University.

The awards were handed out at the fourth annual Staff & Faculty Excellence Awards.

Also recognized at the Quick Center event were faculty members Dr. Adam Brown and Dr. Pauline Hoffmann for the Faculty Excellence Awards they received; milestone anniversary employees in increments of five years from 10 to 35 years; and retirees.

The staff awards were first handed out in 2020 to honor the work of people across the university workforce who had long been overlooked for their efforts.

For a photo gallery of the award winners, click here.

The award for Outstanding Staff Achievement, presented to a staff member who has provided exemplary support or service to the Bonaventure community and/or to their individual area or team, was won by Genny Brockel, assistant registrar.

Nominated multiple times over the last three years, Brockel is “indispensable to SBU and is amazing in all ways,” one nominator said. “I've worked with her for quite a few years and she is one of the most reliable, dependable people I work with on campus.”

Brockel is “always available to students, faculty, staff and parents to answer their questions and is very prompt to respond with very accurate information.”

Brockel provides “crucial support in a critical office and always in a quick and efficient manner. Bottom line: We would not be able to schedule classes for the whole year without her skill, disposition and open-door policy in her office.”

The Customer Support Award, presented to a staff member who provides timely and professional service to both internal and external constituents and is responsive to their needs and requests, was won by Beth Lockwood, facilities attendant in Friedsam Memorial Library.

Lockwood was credited with “showing exemplary leadership in her position. She trains new staff and assists them with changes in policy and procedure, asks questions about changes on behalf of her co-workers, and helps her colleagues work on the computer when there are required trainings and other HR requirements.” 

Another colleague said Lockwood “always goes above and beyond and takes responsibility for the building, looking to see how things can be changed or improved. The words ‘no’ and ‘impossible’ are not in her vocabulary. Her answer is always, ‘We’ll figure it out. We’ll get it done!”

The library she maintains is “always immaculate because she goes above and beyond what’s asked of her. She always keeps an eye out for anything that needs attention, has worked on special projects … and is always willing to take on housekeeping duties at other campus locations when asked.”

The Advocacy Award, presented to a staff member who has contributed to improving the work environment, was won by Jonathan Mascaut, coordinator for International Student Services.

Mascaut was called a “workhorse, an innovator, and a team player. He is available to his students whenever they need him or have questions.”

Beloved by his colleagues in the Student Success Center, Mascaut “helps students understand the many facets of what it takes to be a successful student and community member at St. Bonaventure. He is always trying to find new ways to better himself, the students, his co-workers, and the university.”

Mascaut was lauded for being “a tireless advocate and role model for all of the international students at St. Bonaventure, always working to ensure they have the best experience.”

The Innovation and Change Award, presented to a staff member who helps develop new and improved processes, methods, systems, products, or services and encourages others to do the same and who makes innovation a priority, was won by Mike Tate, superintendent of the St. Bonaventure Golf Course and SBU’s Athletics Fields.

Tate has “absolutely transformed the St. Bonaventure Golf Course and has consistently looked for ways to make upgrades to the course, leading to a significantly better experience for golfers. His efforts have led to increased memberships, daily fee play and revenue” for the university.

Tate has used new applications of fertilizers, watering and “tender loving care” to vastly improve the putting greens, implemented new mowing patterns across the entire course, and upgraded the course’s sand traps.

Tate has also implemented a tree program, eliminating dying or dead trees and bringing in new trees, bushes and landscaping beds that “not only are appealing but also will last well beyond Mike’s tenure. The view from the Fairway View Pavilion on a summer day is now a point of pride for the university.”

In winter, Tate provides maintenance, grooming and snow plowing for three of SBU’s Division I athletics fields, “ensuring a safe playing surface for many student-athletes and helping to ensure the longevity of all the fields.”

The Rookie of the Year, presented to a staff member who has demonstrated responsibility, growth, leadership, commitment to the university and patience in challenging situations, was awarded to Penny Clancy, administrative assistant to the dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.

Nominated by eight people, Clancy “performs her job so skillfully that it’s remarkable to me that she’s been at Bona’s for less than a year.” Everyone who nominated her said she’s “upbeat, cheerful, considerate, skillful and a consummate professional.”

One nominator said Clancy “understands urgency, never drops the ball and is responsive with a smile and a readiness that is unbeatable. In a world dominated by scheduling chaos she is excellent at making things work.”

Clancy also displays “a level of energy, enthusiasm, commitment to her job, and empathy for others that makes her an amazing employee. She is extremely efficient, making short work of difficult tasks. When you need something done ‘yesterday’ and actually have it done ‘yesterday,’ that’s a sign of a great person to work with!”

Milestone employee anniversaries and retirees (between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023) are:

10 Years of Service:

• Betsy Angood (Housekeeping Services)
• Sean Conklin (Quick Center for the Arts)
• Tae Cooke (Physics)
• Christopher Dalton (History)
• Jacob Fintak (Housekeeping Services)
• Fr. Kyle Haden, O.F.M. (Theology & Franciscan Studies)
• William Hilliard (Safety & Security)
• Jason Howard (Maintenance)
• Ibrahim Zabad (Political Science)
• Matt King (English)
• Beth Lockwood (Housekeeping Services)
• Anne Mormile (Visual & Performing Arts)
• Kristen Ryan (Marketing)
• Patrick Schneider (Chemistry)
• Mike Tate (Athletics Maintenance)

15 Years of Service:

• Donna Appleby (St. Bonaventure Friary)
• Marty Blind (University Advancement)
• Anne-Claire Fisher (School of Education)
• Christine Hunt (School of Education)
• Kaplan Harris (English)
• Cathy Maldonado (Library)
• Timothy Olkosky (Maintenance)
• Cindy Proctor (Health Professions)
• Paula Scraba (Physical Education)
• Adriane Spencer (Accessibility Services)
• Vicki Thompson (Technology Services)
• Mark Wilson (Finance)
• Christine Zeitler (Library)

20 Years of Service:

• Susan Anderson (University Advancement)
• Giles Bootheway (Finance)
• Tony Hoch (Maintenance)
• Fr. Dominic Monti, O.F.M. (Theology & Franciscan Studies)
• Nina Peterson (Higher Ed Opportunity Program)
• Ed. Simone (Theater)

25 Years of Service

• Rob DeFazio (Student Affairs)
• Chris Heil (Housekeeping Services)
• Michael Niles (Athletics)
• Russ Woodruff (Philosophy)

30 Years of Service

• Sean McNamee (Athletics)
• Barb Questa (Athletics)

35 Years of Service

• Steve Campbell (Athletics)

Retirees (since June 1, 2022)

• Ludwig Brunner (Quick Center for the Arts)
• Joe Flanagan (Alumni Services)
• Tim Hill (Technology Services)
• Bob Keenan (University Advancement)
• Diana Lawrence-Brown (School of Education)
• Brian McAllister (Accounting)
• Carol Strauch (Online Student Success)
• Larry Whitcomb (Math Specialist)

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. In 2020, St. Bonaventure was named the #2 regional university value in New York and #3 in the North by U.S. News and World Report.