Administrative assistant Bev Sabedra recently was chosen President's Classified Employee of the Year at UNLV. Selected as runners-up were accounting assistant Tony Calleja and grounds supervisor Robert Lynn.

UNLV President Carol C. Harter presented the awards during an annual luncheon for all of the campus's classified employees. Sabedra, who works in the Honors College, received a $1,000 cash award, free on-campus parking for a year, and a plaque. Second-place finisher Calleja, who works in the disbursements office, received $750 and a plaque. Lynn, who is assigned to landscape, grounds, and arboretum and also was named employee of the year for the facilities management department, received $500 and a plaque.

"It is a pleasure each year to honor some of our best classified staff members," Harter said. "Our classified employees - who number more than 850 - are the backbone of campus. Without the hard work and dedication of people such as Bev Sabedra, Tony Calleja, and Robert Lynn, UNLV would not be able to accomplish its goals of teaching, research, and service."

An administrative assistant IV, Sabedra has worked at UNLV since 1985, spending the past 15 years in the Honors College. Her son, Justin, is a freshman at UNLV.

In nominating Sabedra for the award, Susanne Pierce, special assistant to the dean of the Honors College, said, "Bev's positive attitude has filtered into all aspects of the Honors College, the staff, and the students. She genuinely enjoys her work and it shows in how she interacts with students, staff, and others. Bev has been the catalyst to the comfortable, friendly, and helpful attitude our entire office portrays."