Mendocino College Library Specialist Hope Patterson received Mendocino College's classified staff award in September. She's pictured with her supervisor, Mendocino College Librarian John Koetzner. Courtesy photo.

UKIAH – Mendocino College Library Specialist Hope Patterson was selected in September for the initial quarterly award of classified staff.

She was nominated for the honor by her supervisor, Mendocino College Librarian John Koetzner.

“I feel honored to receive this award and I appreciate the nomination by my supervisor,” who Patterson said is very supportive of his staff and is always looking for ways to improve service to students and staff.

Hope said she was grateful for the on-the-job training she received when she was hired as a student assistant by the college’s first library director, Leila Cassidy, and library assistant, Carol Howlett.

“I benefited from their years of experience and education and I thank them for giving me my start in the library,” Patterson said.

Patterson has worked for Mendocino College for 35 years. She graduated from Anderson Valley High School in 1974 and began attending Mendocino College that same year.

While attending Mendocino College, Patterson began working as a student employee in the college library. A year later she was hired as a library clerk and eventually became the library specialist.

“Hope is an incredible self-starter who not only does her job at 100 percent, but she looks for ways to help the library department function well as a team, offering ideas to make things better for students and staff. Her dedication and pleasant personality make her a delightful person to have in our department. I’m lucky to work with her,” Koetzner said.

The Mendocino College Foundation has allocated $2,000 for 2009-10 for the first year of a classified staff recognition program, with one recipient selected Sept. 1, Nov. 16, Feb. 1 and April 16.

The recipient will be selected by the Mendocino College superintendent/president, two vice-presidents and director of human resources based on supervisor nominations, contributions to the college and longevity.

The winner will have the opportunity to decide which college program will receive $500 which can be used by that program in support of the college’s strategic goals.

Mendocino College’s strategic goals are the following: Become a learner-centered institution by focusing on student success; improve student access to college programs and services; enhance the student learning experience by providing educational, cultural and social opportunities beyond the classroom; maximize the procurement and efficient use of financial, human and physical resources; build new and stronger relationships with businesses, educators, agencies and other constituents of our communities.

Patterson requested that the $500 from the foundation be used for the Mendocino College Automotive Technology Program. The plan is to set up a small computer network in the auto tech lab, which students can use to look up parts and access the service/repair database. Currently, there is only one computer which is heavily used and students must wait in line.

For more information about Mendocino College, visit www.mendocino.edu .