Susan Stewart, retired executive secretary in Enterprise Systems, a unit in the Division of Information Technology at Virginia Tech, has received the university's 2013 Staff Career Achievement Award. 

Stewart retired from the university in 2012 after 12 years of service.

Created in 2011 to recognize retiring staff members, the Staff Career Achievement Award is presented annually to up to five individuals who have distinguished themselves through exemplary performance and service during their university career. Nominees must have served a minimum of 10 years at Virginia Tech. Each recipient is awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

As executive secretary, Stewart planned and facilitated events to promote departmental communications. She processed travel and organized departmental calendars, scheduling, and inventory. One of her primary responsibilities was to facilitate meetings and relationships between Enterprise Systems with other areas of the division and university departments. Her interactions included coordinating meetings, planning and supervising events, and facilitating vendor relationships.

“Sue’s courtesy and helpfulness to others was noted many times by other offices on campus and brought many words of thanks to the unit,” said Scott Midkiff, vice president for information technology. “She was instrumental in the success of various events and in promoting a positive campus image presented to hundreds of guests from other institutions.”

Stewart was an active member of several staff and administration professional development groups. She was a dedicated supporter of the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign at Virginia Tech and provided leadership for the division’s participation for many years.

“The most significant talent that made Sue so successful was her innate ability to navigate unique events and circumstances,” Midkiff said. “She was always able to tackle unpredictable day-to-day activities and find ways to meet everyone’s needs with grace, humility, and creativity.”

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

Written by Catherine Doss.
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