State University College at Fredonia President Stephen H. Kolison Jr. presents Kellie Sacilowski with the Poummit Secretarial Award.
FREDONIA — Kellie Sacilowski considers herself fortunate to work with such wonderful people, but never expected she would be honored with an award because of it.
Sacilowski, who serves as treasurer of the CSEA State University College at Fredonia Local, was recently honored with the Poummit Secretarial Award.
The award is given each year to a SUNY Fredonia secretarial staff member. Normally, the presentation would be made at a conference in October, but due to cancellations as a result of COVID, Sacilowski was presented the award in December by State University College at Fredonia Fredonia President Stephen K. Kolison Jr.
“I was very surprised and honored to receive this award,” said Sacilowski. “I enjoy everybody that I work with. We all get along really well.”
Sacilowski also carries her positive attitude into her activism on behalf of CSEA members and is a longtime union activist.
“I love helping CSEA members,” she said. “I enjoy helping people by fighting for union members, because we need it.”
The Poummit Secretarial Award is presented each year in honor of Janet Marks, a former secretary to the college’s president.
The basis for the award is performance in five key areas: outstanding attitude, creativity, resourcefulness, demonstrated team effort and personal leadership.
Nominations are made and a committee reviews the nominations and selects an honoree.
Sacilowski exemplifies all of the award’s qualities. Her colleagues recognized this in nominating her, referring specifically to her positive attitude and efforts to create a productive work environment for all.
Among her normal clerical duties, Sacilowski’s responsibilities include handling coordination of events for youth programs at the college’s three theaters, processing sponsorships and donations for events, coordinating artist visits with either the artists or their management and scheduling hospitality for visiting artists.
“We are very proud of Kellie and what she has accomplished at work and on behalf of CSEA members as an activist for years,” said CSEA Western Region President Steve Healy.
— Mathew L. Cantore
