Wednesday; July 2, 1997 - The Michigan Daily - 9 Black 'U' employees honored N 12th annual award ceremony held for black faculty and staff By Angla Hugi For the Daily The Association of Black Professionals, Administrators, Faculty and Staff honored the accomplishments of University employees with an after- noon of music, poetry and refresh- ments. Four hundred fifty-four employees were honored during the 12th Annual Awards Program held in Rackham Amphitheater on June 25. The program recognized faculty and staff who received promotions and those who have been employed by the University for 25 years or more. Event organizer Valener Perry said the main purpose of ABPAFS was "to promote the interest of African Americans on campus and to help us act as a unified voice." The awards ceremony was titled "United for Advancement" to empha- size the overriding theme of unity. Keynote speaker Henry Johnson, vice president emeritus for Student Services and Community Relations, said the ceremony was a multi-purpose event. "It is a time of reunion, celebration ... reflection, and finally evaluation," Johnson said. "A time of levity as well as seriousness." Divided leadership and miscommu- nication stalled the advancement of black University employees, however, common struggles should create fel- lowship among the members of ABPAFS, Johnson said. "Our mission should be to create an organization which can flourish in an environment which has competing interests,' he said. Johnson added that although ABPAFS is comprised of faculty and staff members, they should not over- look the significance of student impute. Johnson added that ABPAFS is not only an asset to students and employ- ees, but that students are important to ABPAFS. "Students are the glue that fills in all of the cracks," he said. "It should be a model of unity that students can imitate. It should offer refuge, comfort and guidance for the students." Following Johnson's speech, organiz- ers presented three special awards to individuals who achieved outstanding accomplishments within the communi- ty or on campus. The Outstanding Public Service Award was presented to Randolph Skeete, Medical School administra- tions staff counselor. Joyce French, senior data archives specialist for the Center of Political Studies and Audrey Lucas, University Medical Hospitals human resource consultant, both accepted the Career Service Award. Lucas has been employed by the University for 44 and a half years; she began as an elevator operator earning $1.06 an hour. The Charles D. Moody, Sr. Higher Achievement Award was bestowed upon Sociology Prof. Donald Deskins, Jr. Perry then presented certificates to those who received promotions and have been in service to the University for at least 25 years. Johnson said that the achievements of the award recipients should inspire others. "The light of their accomplishments should so shine that all who see it aspire to do the same" Mark Friednan/Daily Dr. Paul Uchter stands beside a piece of art from an Ann Arbor child. An exhibit of ildren's artwork is on display at the W.K. Kellog Eye Center to acknowledge work done by the University Department of Ophthalmology. Children's art exhibit celebrates vision By Christine M. Paik aly Staff Reporter The WK. Kellogg Eye Center might be mistaken for a gallery of fine art dur- ing the next few weeks, or maybe even an exhibition of abstract paintings creat- ed by famous artists. The center is displaying "The World Through the Eyes of a Child" an exhib- it of artwork created by toddlers from 10 local day-care centers. The exhibit runs from June 25 to July 21, commemorat- ing the first annual University *epartment of Ophthalmology Day. Becky Pazkowski, director of market- ing at the W K. Kellogg Eye Center, said the exhibit is the Department of Ophthalmology's way of "celebrating vision all year long.' "We're in the middle of our 125th anniversary in the Department of Ophthalmology," Pazkowski said. "What better way to celebrate vision than to see though the eyes of a child?" Children ages two through five were invited to portray things they enjoyed looking at using a variety of approaches. Scotty Oatley, a five-year-old at KinderCare Learning Center in Ann Arbor, cut out magazine pictures and pasted them onto construction paper, next to a large eye. The exhibit opened last Wednesday at the Kellogg Eye Center. The opening included formal remarks from Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon. "It was a very, very great program," Sheldon said. "It's nice every now and then to take time to recognize your own achievements, in this case the Department of Ophthalmology, and to develop ways for the community to be aware of the impact that you have made." The children, their parents, and their day-care providers attended the exhibit opening and were entertained by clowns. "It was everything I visualized would happen," Pazkowski said. "We had clowns that were doing face paintings and animal balloons. And the smiles on the faces of the people last night were just excellent" While the adults focused on the speakers, the children enjoyed the party. "I saw clowns," Oatley said. "My arm has a tattoo, but it's almost all gone now." Pazkowski said that she hopes that the month long exhibit will realize how pre- cious sight really is and that it should not be taken for granted. Tiion Letn Ka kn The Princeton Kaplan Review aI m dlais size , 2 I III Think You're Pregnant? o Free Pregnancy Testing * Completely Confidential " Information about Pregnancy and Options " Free Post-Abortion Support Groups " Abstinence Counseling WOMEN HELPING WOMEN PEGNANCY 2950 Packard Rd. 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