Housekeeper creates welcoming home for students

“中国是一个很棒的国家, 努力工作，值得嘉奖的员工,” wrote one of the many people who nominated residence hall housekeeper Chineka斯坦利 for a C. 诺克斯·梅西杰出服务奖. “她总是在这儿，活泼而早.”

“光明和早期”尤其合适, given that Stanley typically arrives before her student residents wake and lifts their spirits with a personality that shines.

Employed by the University for nearly five years, Stanley maintains and cleans the Lewis and Everett residence halls off Raleigh Street, 离科克植物园不远. Among her nominators were 37 of the buildings’ current and former residents and four resident advisers. They wrote about how good Stanley is at her job but absolutely gushed at how she is “extremely caring,“一束光。,“善良体贴。,” “a warm presence” and “amazing and uplifting.”

It’s clear that Stanley goes above and beyond in her role, brightening the lives of her students. 他们也试着为她做同样的事. There’s no way to sugarcoat scrubbing toilets, 斯坦利说, but the care and consideration of the students make the job easier.

“来到这里，拥有这样的爱是很棒的. The number one way I get respect back from them is how clean they are,斯坦利说. “And beyond keeping stuff clean, their relationship with me makes my job easier. 他们跟我说话，向我征求意见. 我有点像他们的大姨妈. It just makes it a lot easier to have to clean toilets every day.”

创建一个家

The residence halls Stanley cleans are primarily for first-year students. Often this is the students’ first extended stay away from their parents. They can have a hard time being away from home and may be new to cleaning up after themselves. Stanley keeps that in mind and tries to make them feel welcome in their new home.

“They’re going through all types of different emotions. I can try to make them a little bit more comfortable. It takes some of the pressure off,斯坦利说. “至少当他们进入大楼时是这样, 他们可以说它闻起来很香, 它看起来很好，很暖和.”

One of the resident advisers who nominated Stanley recalled her relationship with Stanley and the way Stanley has supported the students she serves.

“She has given me life advice and encouraging words and inspires me to keep going even when my days are long. She is a well-known face around Lewis and makes my day better whenever I see her,” the RA wrote. “Chineka does so much more than just keep the halls clean and absolutely deserves this award.”

被自己

他自称是“球鞋迷”,” Stanley often sports Nike Jordans in different styles and colors at work. Her collection is so large, she said, there are some she hasn’t yet worn.

While showing off her style helps her connect with students, that’s not why she does it. She simply wants to be herself and credits her department for giving her that freedom. “In housing, they allow you to be yourself and show who you are. They welcome that, and that makes the job a lot easier,斯坦利说.

She is also grateful for the support of her co-workers.

“我们就像一家人. We have a great work environment and a great team. 我需要休息一两天的时候, I can be at ease knowing that my teammates are going to cover my area well and are willing to help,斯坦利说. “I do think that most housekeepers get overlooked. For someone to even notice my work, it means a lot. So, to be nominated and to actually win this award just for being myself and doing what I like to do is huge.”

This story is part of 油井’s coverage of the C. 诺克斯·梅西杰出服务奖, 它承认“不寻常”, meritorious or superior contributions” by University employees. 寻找新的收件人档案来或 寻找你可能错过的其他人.