FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2004
Contact: Linda McCandless, 607-254-5137, email llm3@cornell.edu

Cheryl Ten Eyck Named 2004 Outstanding Employee at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva
By Joe Ogrodnick

Pictures are linked to hi-res scans Cheryl Ten Eyck (center) flanked by Amy Andersen, Station Club President (left) and Bill Srmack, the 2003 Outstanding Employee (right).

GENEVA, NY: Cheryl Ten Eyck, a programmer/analyst for the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program at Cornell University, was named this year’s “outstanding employee” at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station’s annual banquet held November 5. She is the 22nd employee to be so named.

Ten Eyck was hired in October 1992 as a programmer and computer support specialist. “Cheryl's computer expertise, calm manner and good humor are very important to the IPM Program,” said Mike Hoffmann, IPM director. “If she doesn't know the answer to a question, she knows the IT network well enough to find someone with the answer.  We are very fortunate to have someone of Cheryl's caliber as part of the IPM Program."

“Cheryl has not only successfully filled those roles for which she was hired, but has taken on many others in the IPM program, for Cornell Cooperative Extension and for the Station,” noted Curt Petzoldt, IPM assistant director. “Among other things, she has written specialized software for the IPM program, works with the people who maintain the New York IPM web site, and regularly teaches a  class in Microsoft Excel class for the Station community.”

Others who lauded Ten Eyck noted that she consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty by providing cheerful service to employees, sharing her programming expertise in support of many important projects, and leading computer training courses for faculty and staff across the Station.

In addition to a framed plaque commemorating the event, Ten Eyck received a gift certificate for brunch for two at Cornell’s Statler Hotel's Banfi's Restaurant, a $25 gift certificate to the Cornell Campus Store, a  $20 gift certificate for Experiment Station merchandise, and the highly coveted employee recognition parking sign. Her name will also be added to a plaque with the names of previous honorees that is on permanent display in the Lee Library at Geneva.

“I am truly humbled by this award,” Ten Eyck said. “The Experiment Station is a well respected facility, but brick and mortar isn’t what’s respected – it’s the people. There are not many places where you can work with people from all parts of the world. One of the first things I noticed was the patience that people have with one another, and that extra time that they give each other makes a big difference. This is truly a wonderful place to work.”

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