Unsung Hero, Heroine Honored

SUZANNE RAMSEY
College relations staff writer

Event emcee Sarah Hall ’09 presents the Unsung Heroine award to housekeeper Deborah Beaty.

Housekeepers Pat Trout (left) and Hilda McCray enjoy a laugh at the 5th-annual Unsung Heroes Banquet, held Friday, April 11 at the Elston Inn & Conference Center. During the event, McCray was named “Miss Sunshine.”

The fifth-annual Unsung Heroes Banquet was held Friday, April 11 at the Florence Elston Inn and Conference Center.

The event honors employees from physical plant, dining services, support staff, campus safety and the Sweet Briar stable — people who do a lot of behind-the-scenes work and might not get the recognition they deserve.

In her opening remarks, emcee Sarah Hall ’09 spoke for all of Sweet Briar’s students, saying, “You’re all amazing human beings and we recognize that our lives would not be the same without you.”

Although spearheaded by the Sweet Spirits and chaplain’s office, the Unsung Heroes Banquet is a campus-wide effort. It is funded by faculty, staff, students and student clubs, groups and organizations, and the Unsung Hero and Heroine are chosen by the student body.

This year, Jack Staton and Deborah Beaty were named the Unsung Hero and Heroine. Both work for the physical plant where Staton is a plumber and boiler operator and Beaty, a housekeeper.

Of Beaty, Hall said, “No task seems to be too difficult for this woman,” adding when she’s feeling grouchy, “just hearing her say, ‘How’s it going?’ really brightens my day and I appreciate that.”

Other awards — think school yearbook superlatives — also were presented. The honorees were nominated by their coworkers.

Housekeeper Hilda McCray was named “Miss Sunshine,” an announcement that brought whoops, hollers and applause from those in attendance and prompted college relations staffer Jackie Dawson to remark, “That was a good one. She is Miss Sunshine.”

Mailman Stacey Carter, the 2006 Unsung Hero, was awarded “Mr. Sunshine.”

Carmen Hess, a recent addition to the housekeeping staff, was dubbed “Hardest Working” and “Most Persevering” went to groundskeeper John Tomlin. Grounds supervisor Donna Meeks was recognized for being “Most Encouraging” and Lewis “Squeaky” Jones was voted “Class Clown.”

Honorees dined on a buffet catered by Cook’s Alley and were entertained by the Bramble and Rose String Band, which featured, among others, Sweet Briar librarian Joe Malloy and Chaplain Adam White.

In addition to those already mentioned, volunteers included Claire Carson ’08, Jennica Harris ’08, Michelle Sanchez ’08, Caity Gladstone ’09, Kristen Johnson ’09, Ginny Lightfoot ’09, Kate Lydin ’09, Stephanie Nance ’09, Rachel Sullivan ’09, Madeline Davis ’10, Anna Rij ’10, Samantha Benito ’11, Hillary Edwards ’11, Caroline Freeman ’11, Danielle Houck ’11, Heather McTague ’11, Sarah Phillips ’11, Julia Pitman ’11, Kelsey Smith ’11, Alyssa Stephenson ’11, Bonnie Kestner, Pat Richeson and members of Tau Phi and the Sweet Briar Golf Club.

Banquet sponsors included Sweet Spirits, Sweet Briar Voice, Jonathan Green and Lynn Buck, Vixen Inklings, co-curricular life, SWEBOP, president’s office, office of finance and administration, chaplain’s office, Angela and Adam White, German Club, French Club, Aints ‘n’ Asses, Belly Dancing Club, Class of 2009 and Tau Phi.