Facilities/Safety/Trades

The Outstanding Classified Employee awards are chosen by nominations received by the Awards Committee from all faculty, staff, and students at VIMS. They are awarded in the categories of Facilities/Safety/Trades, Research and Advisory Service, Technical Support, and Administrative Support.

This year, we are pleased to present the Outstanding Classified Employee in Facilities/Safety/Trades to Kenneth Borkey.

Mr. Ken BorkeyKen Borkey had worked for the VIMS grounds department for more than 4 years when he was chosen to become the Grounds Supervisor last year. He is a working supervisor, which means that he works alongside the 4 classified and 1 hourly employee he manages, in addition to his supervisory duties. Ken and his crew are responsible for the outdoor tasks that keep our 40-acre campus beautiful, such as raking leaves, mowing grass, planting flowers and bushes, edging, watering and mulching. Ken and his staff do this year-round in all types of weather, from the heat and 90% humidity in July to the 25 degree and snowy weather in February. Ken is also responsible for all moves on campus and coordinates those with each requestor—he is always willing to help and with a can-do attitude. He is also tasked with setting up and breaking down equipment needed for special events from Lectures to Chili cook-offs to Marine Science Day and everything in between—again, always cheerfully able to work with all levels of staff and management. Ken is a reliable, hard-working professional and an asset to the VIMS team. He just quietly and competently "gets things done" and that is why he is very deserving of this award.

Congratulations, Ken!