PRESS RELEASE

State Employees' Achievements Recognized
At Annual Awards Event

Three Win Top Delaware Award For Excellence and Commitment In State Service

Dover - State Personnel Director Lisa Blunt-Bradley presided over the annual luncheon honoring the Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service recipients and nominees. The event, held at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover today, recognizes State employees for their outstanding contributions in providing public service.

The effectiveness, efficiency and quality of State Government depends on the people in state service. Today, we recognize the efforts of those State employees whose dedication and commitment to service are exemplified by their exceptional accomplishments, said Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.

This year's Delaware Award was presented to Dennis Layton, an equipment operator for the Department of Transportation, who demonstrated remarkable heroism by saving a co-worker from serious injury while sustaining injury himself in moving his co-worker out of danger; John McQueen, Correctional Corporal, Department of Correction, for thirty-seven years of outstanding State service; and Debra Rutledge, a Public Health lab manager, for quickly and efficiently developing procedures and training staff to deal with handling agents of bioterrorism .

In addition to the top award recipients, 22 other State employees were recognized for their exemplary performance.

Blunt-Bradley said, We come together today to celebrate the achievements of our Delaware Award recipients and nominees. Today's event provides an opportunity for State agencies to recognize and reward their employees' valuable contributions - quality service that enhances the lives of all Delaware residents.

To achieve the award, departments or agencies submit nominations to Blunt-Bradley who in turn gives the names to a nine-member review committee. The review committee consists of representatives from the President Pro-Temp of the Senate, Speaker of the House, State Personnel Director, an Agency Head appointed by the Governor, a Union official and three State employees chosen by the Governor and a member of the private sector. From those nominations, three employees are chosen to receive the Delaware Award.

Recipients of the awards receive a personalized plaque and a $2,000 cash award, minus appropriate tax withholdings. The names and pictures of the recipients will be displayed in the Tatnall Building, Employee Hall of Honor, in Dover.

For more information, call (302) 739-4195.

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