May 26, 2017 By Will Sahlie
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn University honored four Spirit of Excellence Employees of the Year Wednesday, recognizing Lauren Einhorn, Patricia Branum, Christopher Cox and Shelia Hooks for their dedication.
Each received $500 from the Auburn University Foundation and $2,500 from Auburn's Athletics Department.
"We congratulate these Employees of the Year for the many ways in which they make Auburn better," said Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs. "Athletics is pleased to help recognize these deserving honorees. It's our way to say, 'We appreciate what you do.'"
"We would like to give a very special thank you to the Auburn University Foundation for their support of our program, and to Jay Jacobs and the athletic department for their continued support of this program," Executive Director of Employee Relations Linda Maxwell-Evans said.
Einhorn, who has worked at Auburn since 2011, works in office administration. She helps plan the school's mission of frontloading budgets and projecting expenses.
Branum has worked at Auburn for 22 years, and won the Library Excellence Award in 2016. She supervises staff and resources maintenance groups in the circulation department, and helps run the library efficiently.
"It's quite an honor to be recognized campus-wide," Branum said. "The work we do services the whole community of Auburn, and it's nice to know we are recognized beyond the library. I've enjoyed this job and I've enjoyed working for the University for all these years."
Cox, an Info Tech Specialist, has worked at Auburn since 2013. He works multiple jobs on Auburn's campus and has always made himself available to students.
"It's a blessing," Cox said. "My dad taught me, 'Don't ever do something halfway. Do it all or nothing.' It's fun, I deal with 480 students, and I meet someone new every day. It's always a blessing."
Hooks, a 25-year employee at Auburn University, won the award in the Service and Maintenance department. She works as an Ability Specialist Supervisor, helping develop the "quiet zone" of the Student Center, where students go to work on their studies.
Along with the four Employee of the Year winners, Auburn recognized 41 Spirit of Excellence winners for the 2016-2017 year.