Jacob Waller, retired laboratory instrument maker in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science, has received the university’s 2016 Staff Career Achievement Award.

Waller retired from the university in May 2015 after 29 years of service.

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

Waller, who joined the Virginia Tech community in 1985, was responsible for servicing all equipment for the Department of Biological Sciences. His technical expertise saved the department thousands of dollars a year, whether it be through maintaining and repairing equipment or his apt for purchasing new equipment and service contracts.

Waller was known for his reliability, attention to detail, and adherence to rules and regulations.

He served as the department’s liaison with the Environmental Health and Safety Services and as chair of the department’s Safety Committee. As such, he educated and regularly updated faculty, staff, and students on safety and emergency procedures.

Waller consistently showed a commitment to the department, ready to fix a problem day or night.

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