Edward A. Mulfinger Award for Respect and Civility
Former Regional Director of Housing and Food Services Edward Mulfinger started working at Penn State in the fall of 1974 in the HUB Eateries. In 1984 he took time off to attend Penn State full time. Four years later he was hired as the manager of Snack Bars and Mobile Units, and by 1990 he returned to the HUB as manager of production.
Starting in the fall of 1994, he moved to Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, and became the manager of Housing and Food Services for the campus. He returned to University Park in 2000 and was named the regional director of Housing and Food Services with responsibilities for the western commonwealth campuses that have housing and food services.
During his time with the organization, H&FS has built and/or renovated 10 residence halls and has renovated two dining facilities.
Eligibility
An employee (exempt, non-exempt, technical service, or wage) or group of employees who have worked in or supported Housing and Food Services for at least one year is eligible for this award. Individual employees as well as teams may be considered for this award. Award recipients will not be eligible to be considered for nomination two years in a row.
Selection Process
A director serving as chair, plus a five-member awards committee – consisting of one University Park Housing employee, one University Park Food Services employee, one Campus Housing and Food Services employee, one support unit employee, and the previous year’s award recipient – will select a finalist who demonstrates some or all of the following characteristics:
- Treats individuals and groups of people in an open and courteous manner, recognizing and honoring the dignity and uniqueness of each person
- Supports and initiates programs and services that celebrate diversity and community
- Contributes in positive ways to the overall working environment for employees and to the overall University environment for students, faculty, staff, customers, and guests
- Strives to be inclusive in program planning and decision-making
- Actively mentors other employees
Award
The recipient will be presented with a statue and a monetary award – and will have his or her name displayed on a plaque in the lobby of the Housing and Food Services Building. If the recipient is a team, they will share in the monetary award and will have the team's name displayed on the plaque.
Read the FAQ's for more information on the nomination process and considerations.
Nominations
Any customer or employee who works in or supports Housing and Food Services can nominate one or more persons or teams for this award each year.