Pitt-Greensburg announces President's Distinguished Service Awards for Staff

Valerie Kubenko, Stacy Netzel photosThe University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg announced the recipients of the 2016 President’s Distinguished Service Awards for Staff and recognized eight staff members for their years of service. The presentations occurred at the campus’ annual holiday luncheon in December 2016.

The President’s Distinguished Service Award for Staff is the most prestigious honor that Pitt-Greensburg presents to regular staff members of any classification in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the campus. The candidates must demonstrate a consistent pattern of extraordinary dedication to the University above and beyond their job responsibilities. Complete criteria for the award and past members may be found at http://greensburg.pitt.edu/faculty-staff/presidents-distinguished-service-award-staff.

Valerie Kubenko, an Administrative secretary, and Stacy Netzel, director of Conferencing, were the recipients of this year’s President’s Distinguished Service Awards for Staff. In the introduction to the awards, Sharon P. Smith, PhD, president of Pitt-Greensburg, noted the winners of this award are role models who demonstrate that an individual can make a huge difference—whether it is in the small every day activities or in response to extraordinary challenges.

Kubenko, who works with the faculty in the Natural Sciences Division, was held up as a role model for team work. Using details from the nomination submitted, Smith described Kubenko as, “kind, compassionate, and generous . . . endlessly patient . . . incredibly considerate and impressively anticipating the needs of everyone she work with . . . whose gentle tactfulness fosters productive collaboration . . . an empathetic and optimistic problem solver who brings light to circumstances.” Smith also commended Kubenko for her ability to work with a variety of personalities both in her division and outside of it, exhibiting a gracious, diplomatic, and patient matter. Also recognized for her 10 years of service to the campus at the luncheon, Kubenko started her career at Pitt-Greensburg in 2006 as an Administrative Secretary to faculty in the Divisions of Humanities and the Behavioral Sciences. An active member of the Pitt-Greensburg Staff Association, Kubenko resides in Latrobe with her husband, Todd, and son, Nathan. 

Smith described Netzel as “a vivid illustration of Pitt to the Power of One: an individual with an entrepreneurial spirit who actively seeks out change rather than waiting to adapt to it in order to advance the whole organization.” Smith noted that Netzel, who holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business, has an eye for detail at all levels, a deep respect and professionalism in dealing with all constituents, and an agility in handling all issues with calm and efficiency that keeps clients coming back year after year. An example of Netzel’s abilities included the successful orchestration of the logistics for the meeting of the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees held at Pitt-Greensburg in October 2015. Then, she demonstrated her collaborative and creative skills in developing and negotiating an alternative plan for hosting more than 800 people at the annual Taste of Westmoreland event held in March when the venue was changed due to a damaged fire sprinkler flooding the campus gymnasium in February 2016. Netzel resides in Greensburg, PA, with her husband, Frank.

Eight staff members were recognized with service awards, including:

  • 20 years of service
    • Patricia Barkell (Financial Aid Specialist) from Penn Township, PA;
    • Delia Oslosky (Department of Facilities Management) from Trafford, PA;
    • Beth Tiedemann (Director of Advising and Registrar) from Greensburg, PA.
  • 10 years of service:
    • Diane Hughes (Library Specialist) from Harrison City, PA;
    • Valerie Kubenko (Administrative Secretary) from Latrobe, PA;
    • James Vikartosky (Library Specialist) from Greensburg, PA.
  • 5 years of service:
    •  Courtney DeCarlucci (Manager of Foundation and Corporate Relations) from Greensburg, PA;
    • Paula Fetherlin (Mail Specialist) from Greensburg, PA.

Publication Date

Thursday, January 1, 1970 - 00:00