Sweet Briar housekeeping superintendent Jerry Allen listened attentively as SBC President Elisabeth Muhlenfeld introduced the College’s inaugural ROSE Awards. Most of the faculty and staff were assembled for a luncheon to kick off a new academic year.

Nudging the guy next to him, Allen whispered, “Man, I’d like to win that but I know I never would.”

Moments later he was standing next to Muhlenfeld, a $500 check in hand, which he need share only with his wife for their upcoming 35th anniversary — the College already took care of Uncle Sam’s portion of the bonus.

Allen, who lives in Arrington, came to Sweet Briar in 1992 as a housekeeper. He was promoted in 1998 to superintendent and clearly has earned the admiration of his employees. Several of them nominated him for the ROSE award for Excellence as a Team Member, citing his respectfulness and willingness to work with others.

“It made me feel great that people recognize it,” Allen said. “It also reflects on the kind of people I have working for me.”

Three ROSE — or Recognition of Staff Excellence — Awards were presented at the luncheon on Aug. 17, minting a new tradition to officially acknowledge the efforts of the College’s staff. Although the students give out a staff excellence award each year, the ROSEs allow employees to recognize each other.

To be eligible, a staff member must be employed by the College for at least a year, and must be nominated by a coworker, with the support of the nominee’s supervisor. The three award categories are excellence as a team member, excellence in service, and making a difference through a bright idea. The Bright Idea Award goes to an employee who saves costs, gains efficiency, or improves customer service, learning environment, or external and internal relations through a suggestion or innovation.

Each comes with a $500, tax-paid bonus. A plaque bearing the names of each year’s recipients will be displayed on campus.

Gloria Higginbotham was equally unprepared to hear her name called for the Excellence in Service Award, which recognizes service to internal and external customers. “I’ve been so busy with the [capital] campaign, I really hadn’t given it much thought. It’s a nice gesture and the cash donation is good,” she said. “I believe it will give people the incentive to work harder.”

Donation? A Freudian slip suggesting work is never far from her mind? A native of Amherst, Higginbotham has worked in the College’s development office since 1974, and serves as office manager and development associate.

The award was no surprise to anybody who’s been around Sweet Briar for even a short time. Higginbotham’s colleagues wrote that she is an “unlimited source of knowledge, facts and figures, and is selfless and dedicated.” Indeed, almost daily one might hear, “Ask Gloria, she’ll know.”

Mechanic Pat Clements’ reincarnation of two old, worn-out vehicles into a working compactor trash truck painted to look like new earned him the Bright Idea Award. The Amherst County resident has long been revered for his resourcefulness on the job. Clements came to Sweet Briar in 1994 as a plumber and transferred to the garage in 2004.

“I’ve seen him fabricate tools and parts to keep old worn equipment functioning,” wrote the coworker who nominated him. “His effort with that project saved the college a lot of money.”