Dental College of Georgia’s service award goes to employee whose ‘kindness knows no bounds’

The Dental College of Georgia recently presented the 2021 Sherry Barnett Customer Service Award to Marie Churchville, administrative assistant for the Department of Endodontics. The award was established to recognize the values of professionalism, understanding, respect, service and excellence exemplified by former Augusta University staff member Sherry Barnett.

Churchville was nominated by eight of her peers — the most nominations that one nominee received — and the entire department was on hand to celebrate her award. Churchville has been an employee of the DCG for 14 years, and an employee of Augusta University for a total of almost 35 years.

Nominations described Churchville’s passion, dedication and expertise:

• “With a previously limited background in either dentistry or post-graduate education, she has manifested into the default area expert in all things dental education for our students, residents and faculty. She makes what can often seem a chaotic, unpredictable, and inefficient system into a seamless and well-oiled machine.”
• “She is always the first to share a smile and laugh with others and her kindness knows no bounds. She is free giving of her time and her dedication is unmatched.”
• “She goes out of her way to ensure that everyone’s differences are not only accepted but celebrated. She is the glue that holds our department together and the person everyone turns to on their good and bad days. She has an innate ability to create a family atmosphere around her that generates a team cohesiveness that makes everyone’s day go better and makes you want to come back to work the next day… I have been retired for a few years now, but if I was ever asked to return, I would only say yes if she was still there.”
• “She deserves this award not because of what she does but why she chooses to be the way she is. She truly enjoys helping others and making the workday brighter for everyone she encounters!”

With a hug and a smile, Dr. Carol Lefebvre, dean of the college, presented Churchville with her award, calling her to the podium with the nickname that Churchville uses for everyone: “Sugar, come on up!”

“She is the cornerstone of her department,” Lefebvre said. “And she deserves to be recognized as such.”