Amy Cates and Allison Mette were recently awarded the MechSE Staff Award for Exemplary Service for 2019. This honor is awarded to staff members for their vast contributions to the department and their outstanding service to faculty, students, and colleagues.

Cates works in the Graduate Programs Office as the graduate admissions coordinator for MechSE. Her job involves reviewing all of the graduate applications, working with the department’s Graduate Admissions Committee to facilitate the final review process on applicants, organizing the annual recruitment event, and submitting nominations for fellowship candidates.  

“She’s incredible,” said MechSE Admissions and Records Supervisor and colleague, Kathy Smith. “She’s always so concerned about the students and faculty. She’s very thorough and she will do everything it takes to make sure she’s giving the right information. She’s most definitely a special kind of person.”

An office support specialist for the business office, Mette works in a team that places all of the orders and manages reimbursements for all MechSE students, staff, postdocs, and faculty. The diversity of work in the MechSE department creates a variety across orders for Mette to handle, making her position both interesting and challenging.  

“I started in a different position here at the university. Then I found that the business office was looking for help so I started picking up jobs with them,” said Mette. “I fell in love with this work. I love that there is always something to do.”

Cates and Mette were honored at the MechSE Awards Banquet on March 29.