MUNCIE, Ind. - Five individuals with 30 or more years of service to Ball State University will be recognized April 17 at the 38th annual Staff Recognition and Retirement Award Program.

The dinner also will honor 106 staff employees for retirement, years of service and special achievements. The program begins at 6 p.m. in the L. A. Pittenger Student Center Cardinal Hall. The winner of the A. Jane Morton Award and five Meritorious Service Awards will also be announced.

Individuals with 30 or more years of service include Risa Jones, Larry Wert, Judith A. Austin, Bill H. Reed, and Joan Francoeur.

When the five staff employees began working at Ball State in the late 1960s, the university was undergoing a period of expansion. In 1968, construction began on Lewellen Pool and the first portion of Scheidler Apartments was completed. Johnson Residence Halls, Cooper Science Building and the College of Architecture and Planning Building were still on the drawing boards.

Jones, a duplicating clerk, has been helping patrons since 1968 at the Copy Center in the Administration Building.

"As a supervisor, I am fortunate to work with an employee who requires so little supervision," said Ken Johnson, director of Ball State's Printing Services.

It is rare for Jones to not be found spending her spare time raising money for the Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) or some other canine-related charity, he said.

"Risa's dedication to Ball State University is only surpassed by her love of dogs," Johnson said. "I'm sure that anyone who has stopped by the copy center knows what I mean."

Wert, Central Stores manager, is another well-known individual on campus. He took his first job at the university in 1967 as a custodian in the bookstore and remained there for seven years before transferring to Studebaker Residence Hall as kitchen stores clerk.

Wert transferred to Central Stores in 1976 to work as a shipping and receiving attendant. Within two years, he took on the responsibilities of stores supervisor and has been in his current position as manager since 1984.

"Larry has been an excellent employee throughout his years at the university," said Tom Brinson, acting director of Purchasing and Central Stores. "Central Stores is a service-oriented operation and Larry has always approached his responsibilities in a polite and professional manner when servicing the university's staff and faculty personnel."

Austin, technical cataloging assistant/serials, began working as a processing clerk for University Libraries in 1972. Over the years she has worked in various positions within the library.

"Judy has seen University Libraries move from the past and into the future," said Scott McFadden, cataloging services librarian.

"Beginning with us in the days when printed cards were still the norm for library cataloging, she now works with the library's online catalog and helps make electronic journals from all over the world available to our students and faculty."

McFadden said Austin has been equally adept at working with the public as well as doing the "behind-the-scenes" work that ensures that information resources will be accessible to all library patrons.

Francoeur, graduation coordinator, worked at several part-time and temporary university positions in data processing for five years before entering full-time employment in 1972 as a clerk in the Registrar's office.

She was promoted to computer terminal operator a year later and remained in that position until her move in 1986 to the Graduate School office.

"Joan fully enjoys her position and it shows through her enthusiasm and dedication," said Sharon Hahn, office supervisor and secretary to the dean. "She has expressed that she has the best job on campus because she loves to share the graduating students' joy."

Reed, maintenance supervisor for Residence Halls Dining Service, was hired in 1972 as a physical plant custodian.  Within a few years, Reed was able to apply his plumbing experience by transferring to a position in the plumbing shop. Reed has been in his current position since 1985.

"Bill willingly plays pivotal rolls in nearly everything that dining services does," said John Hostetler, facility manager and micro/network manager. "When you're responsible for the mechanical/electrical aspects of seven different food service areas around the clock, you have to be on top of things constantly. Bill is an extremely valuable employee."

For more information about the Staff Recognition and Retirement Award Program contact Marta Stephens at 285-1187.