The 2008 Bishop Patrick Heffron Award for Service to the University went to Alan Joswick. Al has worked worked at Saint Mary's University in the Maintenance Department since 1976 and is now the Trades Department Supervisor.
 
Pictured at left, Al Joswick, and again at right, accepting the 2008 Bishop Heffron Award from
SMU Chancellor Brother Louis DeThomasis and Cindy Marek, vice president for financial affairs.
"Each year when the physical plant director goes on vacation Al takes over to keep operations of the buildings running smoothly. For quite a few years in a row, during Al's charge, we'd have some type of disaster or a visit from some major external organization who would show up on campus unexpectedly for some important need. One year it was the Department of Education to conduct an accessibility study on campus, one year it was the fire marshall, at least once it was OSHA, and several times there were major storms with lightning strikes. Al and I became almost paranoid about having him in charge. But, he handled these visits with grace and diplomacy, and we made it through every 'crisis' easily."
-- Cindy Marek
"I am standing up here receiving this award, but I want everyone to know it is a reflection of the whole Maintenance Department. The Maintenance Department consists of Custodial, Engineering, and the Trades Department that I supervise on a daily basis. The 12 guys that make up the trades area are quite a group. Two new grounds people started this last year. The remaining 10 and I have a combined 224 years of service to Saint Mary's University. With experience like that behind you, how can you go wrong?"
-- Al Joswick |
