The award is named for White, who retired in 1997 as vice chancellor of human resources after 30 years at the University.

Delise Le Pool

Le Pool started her career at the University as a phone-a-thon worker, then worked briefly as a phone operator before moving to her current position as receptionist in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

"Delise Le Pool's infectious personality and commitment to Washington University make her an essential member of the University's admissions team," Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said. "She's a great recipient of the Gloria White award and a person who touches the lives of many students."

Le Pool is considered the "official greeter of the admissions office," and is sometimes referred to as the "cruise director" by students and colleagues. She touches the lives of thousands of people each year as she greets prospective students and their family members who visit the Hilltop Campus.

She is frequently described as kind, gracious, cheerful and fun. Prospective students and their family members remember her as warm, caring and friendly with a great sense of humor.

She is skilled at making each person feel special while waiting or asking for information in the lobby of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the place she refers to as "her living room."

Le Pool has such a positive impact on those she interacts with that she regularly receives letters from prospective students and their parents, thanking her for making them feel so welcome.

Her involvement doesn't end once they decide to attend the University; each fall, newly enrolling freshmen stop by to say hello to her as they begin their college experience, while each May graduating seniors stop by to say farewell.

Le Pool exemplifies what a difference a kind word and a smile can make to an unsure prospective student about to make one of the most significant decisions of his or her young life. She is the face of the admissions office and makes sure it is always a kind, and helpful face that greets each and every visitor.

Staff Day also featured many events for University personnel to participate in. Winners of the various categories are as follows: Volleyball, accounting services; also in volleyball (played in place of softball, which was canceled by the weather), the George Warren Brown School of Social Work; arts and crafts, Lina Yong (first place), Marjorie Anderson (second place) and Patricia Steinmeyer (third place).

The golf tournament had three different divisions. Winning the co-ed flight for the second straight year was the team of Joe Angeles and Terri Nappier. Vicki Goldman and Dannette Hutton teamed to win the women's division, while Jim Severine and Scott Wagganer combined to win the men's title.

University staff members later gathered in Bowles Plaza for the grand prize drawing and Ted Drewes ice cream. Winners of the fitness center membership were Janet Vardeman and Alan Mader, while Toni Kozemski and Amy Nazzoli each won airline tickets.

The University also held a canned-food drive in conjunction with Staff Day. According to the St. Louis Area Food Bank, University employees collected 186 pounds of food, which provides 62 meals for needy families.

Staff Day recognition

In a ceremony in Edison Theatre on Staff Day May 13, individuals who have served the University for several years were recognized.

The following people were recognized for 10 years of service:
Crystal Baldwin, Josephine Ballard, Scott Basden, Luisette Behmer, Catherine Bradford, Marilyn Broughton, Marilyn Chill, Christine Deutschmann, James Dryden, Joyce Duncan, Tammy Dwyer, Thomas Eschen, Karen Eubanks, Tony Fafoglia, Peter Fan, Vicki Ferrari, Linda Goez, Patricia Gregory, Steve Grimes, Patricia Haftarczyk, Galen Harrison, Roxanna Herrick, Marcia Holleran;

Marsha Hussung, Andrew Johnstone, Susan Kapp, Kimberly Kemp, Mark Kloempken, Kenneth Laster, Pamela Lokken, Marc McGary, Edward McMullin, Patricia Nance, Jane Neidhardt, Kathleen Pedicini, Gerald Pelikan, Janine Prost-Domasky, Glenn Richards, Judy Sawyer, Teresa Schneider, Lisa Siddens, Mark Smith, Ralph Thaman Jr., James Thompson, Linda Trower, Martha Turner, Sandra Tutinoi, Barry Weller, Vivian Westbrook, Pamela Wiese, William H. Witbrodt, Lina Sok-lin Yong and Eric Young.

The following people were recognized for 15 years of service:
Linda Balagna, John Berg, Michael Biondo, A. Van Brokaw, Debora Burgess, Ronald Burmeister, Helen Cook, Lee Cribbs, Stanley Crone, Anthony De Marinis, Karen Downey, Thomas Evola, Nancy Fahey, Donna Higgins, Cassandra Hill, Dorothy Kelly, Paula Kiefel, Keith Klein, Bruce Kremer, Lora Lanczkowski, Michael Laverdure, Dorothy Lee;

Deborah Lydon, Dennis Martin, Robert McFarland, Matthew McGuire, Michael Moll, Donna Mollerus, Christine Moseley, Sharon Newsom, William Olbrich, Glenn Osburn, Allan Randle, John Rozycki, Martha Shafer, Kimberly Shilling, Margaret Smith, Michael Starkey, Deborah Starr, Patricia Stepherson, Joni Westerhouse, Joann Wuller and Patricia Zollner.

The following people were recognized for 20 years of service: Teresa Adams, Sally Bartholomew, William Beggs, Linda Carrington, Justin Carroll, Carolyn Crowell, Zachary Dunbar, Mark Edwards, Rebecca Evans, Jeanette Grothe, Lee Hanson, Gary Hochberg, Cheryl Holland, Jeffrey Huestis, Ruth Irwin;

B.J. Johnston, Rita Kuehler, Stephen Kuppinger, Richard Larsen, Harold Mack, Geraldine Manasco, Peg McMullen, Mary Molloy, Betty Nichols, Robert Nicholson, Nancy Picker, Steven Rakel, Gladys Seitter, Janis Snow, Barbara Thomas, Terrie Tue and Kyung Cha Yoon.

The following people were recognized for 26 years of service:
Jane Bettlach, Anthony Biondo, Vivian Burroughs, Dennis Callahan, Jonathan Elson, Cynthia Haynes-Brown, Gloria Lucy, James Payne, Bernard Sunier and Karen Unger.

The following people were recognized for 30 years of service:
Sharon Balsman, Philip Corpening, Cynthia Cosby, Stanley Drane, Olivia Hill, Denise Hirschbeck, Jean Kirby, Donna Murphy, Otha Overholt, Benjamin Sandler, Yvonne Simmons, Edward Stevens and Leon Wonsley.

Marianna Mercurio, Bill Smith and Christine Smith were recognized for 35 years of service.