Six employees recognized with STAR Awards

Six Roanoke College staff members have been recognized with the Service To All Roanoke (STAR) Awards, given to those who go above and beyond the call of their job duties and who have a positive impact on the College and local communities. 

Award recipients were announced at the employee holiday celebration on Dec. 17. The College had so many great nominations that a total of six awards were given this year.  

Shirley Huffman has worked at Roanoke College for 31 years as the coordinator of plant administration. She is a strong recordkeeper with outstanding organizational skills that allow her to efficiently and effectively perform her duties while still providing great customer service. Huffman manages everything for her department from requests for help from students, faculty, staff and parents, to budget and payroll items. She is sensitive to the needs of her co-workers when personal life impacts the professional and supports them during times of joy and times of loss.   

Fran Steele is a salad room attendant in Dining Services and has worked at Roanoke College for six years. She is giving of her time and service - training co-workers, engaging in students' lives, and demonstrating a willingness to help. Steele is hardworking, reliable, team-oriented, flexible, honest and detail- oriented. Working in the salad area in the Commons, she consistently tries to innovate and improve the product she produces. In Dining Services, she has worked for catering, concessions, Freshens, as a cook, in the bakeshop, in the dining area, as a checker and even late nights in the Cavern. Steele is a true asset to Roanoke College.  

Teresa Quinn is the assistant director for campaign operations and is clearly considered a star in Resource Development and around campus. She performs her work without hesitation, tackles additional duties and is often considered the “go to” person for her department. She has a sincere willingness to serve. Quinn mentors student workers, sometimes housing students over breaks, and is a first-generation student mentor through the RC Connection program. She works at many public College events and is always prepared for the unexpected to help ensure events flow smoothly. Quinn plans creative and fun events for her department. Her creativity and desire to serve also extend to community events, where she volunteers her time for several organizations.   

Susan Rambo is the administrative specialist to the Dean of the College. She was nominated for her extraordinary service, effort, and contributions to students, parents and alumni during this year's Commencement ceremonies. The College had promised members of the Class of 2020 they would have a commencement ceremony as soon as safely possible, and Rambo adjusted the commencement plans several times as COVID-19 stretched into 2021. She dealt with uncertainty around planning not one, but two large commencement ceremonies. The Commonwealth of Virginia released ever-changing guidelines on graduation ceremonies, adding to the complexity of planning. Ultimately, the College held two successful commencement ceremonies, while allowing families the opportunity to see their graduates walk across the stage in person. While her tremendous work behind the scenes was largely invisible, that dedication led to very positive, visible outcomes, especially appreciated by graduates and their families.  

Sandra Jackson, business office manager, is another employee who took on complex, unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. For months, she interpreted complex regulations and rules, and put in long hours to develop a strategy for compliance, which included hours and hours of data entry and review. She maintained a positive attitude throughout and provided excellent customer service to students and parents. One nominator said, “I have worked with her on multiple projects, and she can see beyond the dollar signs to the actual impacts of programs on the lives of students and staff.” This ability is a key part of her success and her reason for being chosen for a STAR award.  

Randy Stubstad, associate chief information officer, often goes beyond his job duties to keep the campus technology running, fixing issues late into the night on weekends and holidays. When the College faced a network intrusion, his creative thinking and expertise saved the College from further problems and data loss. Stubstad fills in for department vacancies with a positive attitude. He is the advisor of Roanoke’s new and growing Esports team, helping to develop the organization and mentor students.