Our congratulations and thanks to the recipients of our first Infinite Mile Awards.
Sarah Gallop and Paul Parravano for Public, Customer, or Client Relations (team award)
Jim Morgan for Problem Solving and Leadership
Diane Tavitian for Community Building
Elizabeth Thomson for Collaboration and Teamwork
The First Annual Infinite Mile Awards
Infinite Mile Award recipients Diane Tavitian, Elizabeth Thomson, Sarah Gallop, and Jim Morgan at the June 27 Awards Ceremony, with infant Emma Rogers looking on approvingly.
John Curry and Kathryn Willmore with Paul Parravano at a special awards ceremony held for him on July 5.On June 27, 2001, an Awards Ceremony was held to formally present the awards and to celebrate and elaborate on the good deeds of these very deserving colleagues. Since Paul Parravano was in Washington, DC, that day on MIT business, a surprise ceremony was held for him on July 5 to present his award citation and applaud his many efforts on behalf of the Institute. The wording of the award citations as well as photographs of the recipients and of the ceremonies are shown below.
Sarah Gallop
Sarah Gallop at the awards ceremonySarah Gallop, Co-Director of the Office of Government and Community Relations, for Public, Customer, or Client Relations (team award with Paul Parravano)
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As Co-Directors of the Office of Government and Community Relations, your dedication to advancing the scope and variety of MIT's contributions to the City of Cambridge (and beyond) has built bridges of understanding between Town and Gown. In gracefully assertive ways, you forge mutually beneficial links between the university and its neighbors. Your tools are intelligence, an unassuming and cheerful demeanor, political acumen, and sincerity of purpose. You are at work on behalf of MIT literally night and day-serving as MIT's representatives to social service agencies, the Cambridge schools, City Hall, regulatory commissions, and countless civic organizations. Your view of the Institute's public service mission is broad, and you handle delicate issues with extraordinary sensitivity and professionalism-creating a model of institutional and personal citizenship.
Jim Morgan
Jim Morgan at the awards ceremonyJim Morgan, Controller, for Problem Solving and Leadership.
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As Controller of MIT, you have gone far beyond the traditional expectations of this position- devoting much of your considerable energy and time to involving people throughout MIT in efforts to reach institutional goals. When there is a problem to solve, you begin by listening-in order to ensure that issues and concerns are heard and understood before solutions are framed. This has been evident from your very first days at the Institute and is a mark of your positive, collaborative, and synergistic leadership style. You have been tireless in working toward integrated systems and common platforms for managing the Institute's financial affairs, and your efforts can be seen in a new spirit of collaboration among traditionally separate endeavors. You put the needs of the Institute above those of any single individual, and you inspire others to do the same.
Paul Parravano
Paul Parravano at the awards ceremonyPaul Parravano, Co-Director of the Office of Government and Community Relations, for Public, Customer, or Client Relations (team award with Sarah Gallop)
Read the award citation
As Co-Directors of the Office of Government and Community Relations, your dedication to advancing the scope and variety of MIT's contributions to the City of Cambridge (and beyond) has built bridges of understanding between Town and Gown. In gracefully assertive ways, you forge mutually beneficial links between the university and its neighbors. Your tools are intelligence, an unassuming and cheerful demeanor, political acumen, and sincerity of purpose. You are at work on behalf of MIT literally night and day-serving as MIT's representatives to social service agencies, the Cambridge schools, City Hall, regulatory commissions, and countless civic organizations. Your view of the Institute's public service mission is broad, and you handle delicate issues with extraordinary sensitivity and professionalism-creating a model of institutional and personal citizenship.
Diane Tavitian
Diane Tavitian at the awards ceremonyDiane Tavitian, Administrative Assistant in the Community Services Office, for Community Building
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One of the early torchbearers when the MIT Activities Committee was formed 18 years ago, you have revitalized this program with innovative events that are creating an even stronger Institute community. With such programs as the MITAC Family Movie, campus tours of MIT's gardens and artwork, as well as the traditional trips and outings, you help to bring together people from different backgrounds-creating new friendships and a stronger sense of common purpose within the Institute. As one of the founders and leaders of the Adoption Group at MIT, you have helped create an ongoing forum and resource about adoption for the entire Institute community. In this way, too, your vision, spark, and energy are helping to bring people-and families-together.
Elizabeth Thomson
Elizabeth Thomson at the awards ceremonyElizabeth Thomson, Assistant Director, Science and Engineering, News Office, for Collaboration and Teamwork
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Your long-term, voluntary leadership of the MIT Editors' Club has brought together writers and editors from across the Institute-creating a business and social network that enhances their professional contributions and sense of community. As Assistant Director of the News Office, your energetic and persuasive ability to engage faculty members in the Schools of Science and Engineering and to foster good relations with the media is legendary. You have excelled in building bridges among colleagues here at MIT, as well as between the Institute and the wider world. The resulting teamwork creates significantly better communications within the Institute, and a greater appreciation of science, technology, and the role of research universities in our society.