The 2018 recipients of the Excellence in University Service Awards are Kim Halula, Stacy Mitz, Thomas Wirtz and Annette Wolak.
Much of Dr. Laura Abing's love of life has stemmed from Marquette University. Marquette is where she met her husband, Kevin, received her master's and doctorate degrees, and has been employed for nearly 19 years.
A senior communication specialist in University Advancement, Abing brings an unbridled enthusiasm to everything she does.
Colleagues say she takes great pride in her work, goes the extra mile to ensure that projects are completed in a quality manner and cares deeply about co-workers by expressing attentiveness, prayers, gifts and shared laughter. And she does it all with grace and humor.
Abing is active in the University Staff Senate, currently serving as secretary. She is a past chair and past vice-chair of the senate.
She cites her service with the senate as a highlight of her career at Marquette. She also fondly recalls working with Dr. Gary Meyer, senior vice provost for faculty affairs, in writing and editing the 200-plus-page reaccreditation document for the Higher Learning Commission in 2013.
In his 30 years of service at Marquette, Rick Arcuri has held a number of positions, including residence hall director, facilities manager, assistant and associate dean of residence life, and now executive director of business operations and auxiliary services for student affairs. But the thread that runs through all of them, according to his colleagues and co-workers, is his work ethic and his devotion to the university and its students.
When things are running smoothly at the School of Dentistry, students, faculty and staff can typically thank Coordinator of Informatics Tom Pilak — although he would never seek such recognition.
During the times when things aren't going quite right — such as when a card reader stops working and someone has to stand at the door to make sure students can get into the building — Pilak is there for that, too. For his 36-plus years of service to Marquette and the School of Dentistry, Pilak is a recipient of a 2018 Excellence in University Service Award.
Whether it's arriving early or staying late, Pilak is known for doing whatever it takes to troubleshoot audio/visual issues and keep classes and events running smoothly. And, given where he works, it's especially appropriate that he usually takes on these tasks with a smile.
If you were to comb through the dozen or more comments from her colleagues in Alexandra "Alix" Riley's nomination for the Excellence in University Service Award, two words will surely stand out: responsive and diligent.
As director of OIRA, Riley leads a team that is responsible for connecting university stakeholders with accurate, reliable and actionable information to enable effective decision-making in support of student success.
"Over the past 10 years, Marquette has provided me many opportunities to grow both professionally and personally, and I am very grateful to be part of the Marquette community. I am humbled and honored to receive this award," Riley says.