Janice Watkins Award Winners 1989 Article

Two persons were selected to receive this year's Janice Watkins Award for distinguished civil service. The awards were presented by Vice Chancellor for Administration Richard H. Ward to Pat Kaisling of nursing administration and to Elaine Olszewski of Personnel Services at the 10th annual luncheon ceremony held Jan. 19.

The purpose of the Janice Watkins Award is to bring to the attention of the University community the achievements of support staff employees, to show the dedication that they demonstrate to their required tasks, to give exceptional support staff employees the gratitude of the University and the recognition of their peers, and to honor the memory of outstanding support staff employee Janice Watkins.

During the presentation, Vice Chancellor Ward took the opportunity to thank support staff employees for their valuable contribution to the University.

Specifically of Pat Kaisling, Ward spoke of her many contributions to the University -- her involvement in committee work, such as Administrative Nurse Council, Nursing Policy and Procedures Committee, and the Staff Advisory Council of which she is the current president.

After several years at home raising her family, Kaisling resumed her nursing career in 1963 at Holy Family Hospital where she remained until 1972 when she came to the University of Illinois Hospital. She has worked as a staff nurse and head nurse in orthopedics and surgery. She is presently Administrative Nurse III on 7 West Medicine.

Kaisling is the mother of five adult children and six grandchildren. She has a developmentally disabled daughter, Noreen, and spends much of her time working with the Northwest Suburban Aid for the Retarded and is president of the board. In spite of her busy schedule, she manages to find time to babysit for her family. All of her family reside in the Chicago area and several were present at this ceremony.

"Pat's care and concern for her patients, staff, peers and family has always been evident and certainly makes her worthy of this prestigious award," said Mary Sheehan, director of nursing.

Ward then addressed his comments to the second recipient of the award, Elaine Olszewski. He spoke of her dedication to this campus and to its employees. This dedication to employees is evident in a variety of ways -- easing their transition to retirement, patiently explaining benefit programs, giving information about community, state and federal agencies and going with them to those agencies when she sees the need. To carry her concern and sensitivity of the employees even further, Olszewski has gone out of her way to attend the funeral of deceased employees, always making a point to say few kind words to their families on behalf of UIC.

"We are all indebted to Elaine for her compassion and caring attitude", said Richard Hanneman, assistant vice chancellor for administration and director, Personnel Services.

Olszewski has been employed with the University since 1973. She began working at what was then the Chicago Circle Campus as a clerk typist and has advanced herself to the level of records manager for the Personnel Services office.

In her position as records manager, she has the responsibility and the opportunity to work with all of the support staff employees whether they are active employees, employees on disability or other leaves of absence as well as retired UIC employees. Olszewski effectively works with the families and relatives of disabled, retired and deceased employees, patiently steering them through a myriad of paper work and potential obstacles.

While at UIC, Olszewski has earned her bachelor's degree and has served as a panelist on the advancement of women staff members sponsored by the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women.

She is an active member of St. Adelbert's parish south of the campus. She has served as president of the St. Adelbert's school board and chairperson of the "Save St. Adelbert's Action Committee". She has also been a scoutmaster and a den mother.

One of her proudest moments occurred on Dec. 29. 1989 when she became a grandmother for the first time.

Both, Olszewski and Kaisling exemplify the characteristics on which the Watkins award is based -- dedication to the University, cooperation, provide willing assistance to others, perform their duties with diligence and dedication, and participate in auxiliary activities and/or organizations that are beneficial to the well-being of the University community. They personify a sharing and caring attitude for individuals' needs and concerns.

This year's award consisted of a certificate, a $500 check and a gold pin, whose design was created by Susan Misch, director of Technical Services. The design is based on three interlocking components signifying the unity of the students, faculty and staff who make up the whole of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Each individual group is an inseparable and integral part of UIC, and the circular design reinforces this.

Kaisling and Olszewski's names will be engraved on brass plates and added to the past award recipients' name plaques that are displayed in the east walkway of University Hall.

Watkins, for whom the award was named was struck by an automobile and killed after leaving work on the evening of Dec. 19, 1974. As a supervisor in the insurance office, a past president of the then Nonacademic Employee's Council, and an active member of several University committees, she was known to virtually all of the campus community.