May 14, 2002

Contact: Andrea Albright, University Relations, (785) 864-8860.

University employees of the year recognized during ceremony

LAWRENCE -- The 2002 employee-of-the-year awards were awarded May 2 to senior administrative specialist Bev Mater and director of Legal Service for Students Jo Hardesty.

This year's employee recognition ceremony marked the program's 28th anniversary. Employees of the year were selected from among this year's employee of the month award recipients.

Classified employee of the year

Bev Mater
Mater, who received employee of the month honors in March, joined the KU staff in 1965 as a clerk stenographer in the Department of Physics.

In 1983, after working in biochemistry, sociology and the comptroller's office, she became a secretary III in the Office of the University General Counsel, where she is a senior administrative specialist.

As the only classified staff member in the office, Mater manages correspondence for three attorneys, prepares originals for legal pleadings of two attorneys, maintains personnel and payroll functions and keeps track of the office's budget. She also handles correspondence and scientific reports for former Chancellor Del Shankel.

Mater is a member of a small committee that is responsible for planning the annual dinner for retiring faculty and unclassified staff. Though the overall planning is a group effort, other members of the committee readily admit that Mater handles most of the details.

In Strong Hall, Mater is recognized as the quintessential Jayhawk fan. Basketball is a particular passion. She is a member of the Roundball Club and is there to meet team members, win or lose, when they return from big games. Mater attends nearly as many NCAA tournament games as do the players and coaches.

Unclassified employee of the year

Jo Hardesty
Hardesty, who received employee of the month honors in October 2001, began her KU career as a student employee, first in the Office of Student Financial Aid and then as a legal intern in Legal Services for Students.

She found her calling in public service law and became an LSS attorney upon graduation from the School of Law in 1986. A year later she became director of LSS, a position she continues to hold.

LSS was established in 1979 to serve KU students. It is a licensed law office funded entirely through student fees. Three full-time attorneys and seven student interns provide a broad range of student services. Hardesty is responsible for hiring staff, assigning staff duties, making decisions about client services, overseeing the budget and evaluating LSS employees. She also has her own caseload of clients and supervises legal interns.

LSS interns are second- and third-year law students, so in a normal year about a third of the LSS staff members complete their law degrees and are replaced by "new hires." Hardesty serves as an unofficial mentor to the interns, a role she takes very seriously.

Hardesty is dedicated to serving the clients of Legal Services for Students and is well attuned to the special legal needs of the student population.