Shallaco McDonald wins Ruth Crawford Excellence Award

Shallaco “Shak” McDonald, technical staff assistant, received the 2016 Ruth Crawford Staff Excellence Award at the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering Annual Holiday Banquet, Dec. 10.

The annual award recognizes excellent staff contributions and is named after former senior staff member Ruth Crawford who devoted 30 years of exemplary service to the department working for Professor Emeritus John J. McKetta Jr.

The award recipient is selected by a committee that includes one faculty member, one graduate student, and the previous year’s winner. Nominations are requested from faculty, staff and students. The previous year’s recipient is not eligible for the award.

“Shak has been an integral member of the department, as he is not only concerned with helping out with technical issues in the labs, but he is also concerned about students’ well-being and growth,” said one nominator. “Shak will always put down what he’s doing to take a look at any issue you have, whether it be a broken fume hood, a malfunctioning piece of equipment, or an idea you want to run by him.”

Shak has worked for the department since August 2014. His role as a technical staff assistant has been instrumental in maintaining and improving upon lab equipment and the building as a whole. His consistent determination led Shak to win a Texas ChE Staff Spotlight Award in fall 2015.

“We are incredibly lucky to have such a talented, motivated, and positive person working on our behalf, and anyone that utilizes his services is remarkably better off than without,” said another nominator. “The world has very few ‘Shak’s left, and those that do still exist should be rewarded rather than taken for granted.”

 

Tags: Annual Holiday Banquet, Ruth Crawford Award, Shallaco McDonald, Technical Staff Assistant