Patricia Aldridge, a retired fiscal technician in the School of Performing Arts in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, has received the university’s 2016 Staff Career Achievement Award.

Aldridge retired from the university in December 2015 after 36 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 a $1,000 cash prize.

Highly respected and valued by her colleagues, Aldridge was known for her willingness to go the extra mile for anyone needing her assistance. She was extremely well connected at the university and always knew the right people to contact in times of urgency.

Aldridge’s colleagues commend her for her attention to detail, ability to prioritize their often time-sensitive requests, and reliability.

On numerous occasions, Aldridge was the first to assist colleagues and to volunteer on new projects. In 2009, for example, she took on the Henderson Hall and Theatre 101 renovation project on top of an already full workload. The project, which came to more than $1 million in expenditures, required her to coordinate all the purchasing of new furniture and accessories for 174 rooms.

School of Performing Arts colleagues noted that Aldridge always looked for more-efficient and intelligent ways to make purchases, never hesitating to offer advice, tips, or tricks.



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