(MARSHALL) -Texas State Technical College has announced the recipients of this year’s Chancellor’s Excellence Award, and two Marshall employees were honored.

This year’s Marshall award winners are Melissa Maloney, coordinator of instructional support, and Tonya Holloway, executive assistant to the provost.

Maloney, who has been at TSTC for nearly five years, said she was surprised to receive the award.

“I don’t know that anyone is ever thinking that is going to happen to them, so I was a little shocked,” she said. “I hope it’s because people think I do a good job and try to serve the patrons and people that I work for.”

Maloney has a passion for TSTC’s mission.

“I really do believe in what we do: putting people to work,” she said. “I think there’s something special about the drive that we have to change lives, and I think that’s what we do.”

Holloway was also excited to receive the award.

“It was an honor,” she said. “I never thought I would get chosen for anything like that. But yes, I am very excited about it.”

Holloway said she believes she was nominated because she tries to help make work easier for her colleagues.

“I think I was nominated because I’m a very hard worker, dedicated, and I have a good boss,” Holloway said. “All of the people on campus and all the activities — I try to help with everything. I’m not trying to pat myself on the back or anything, but I just help out where I can.”

Holloway believes in the college’s mission as well, and her two daughters have attended TSTC’s Process Operations program.

“Both of them have been helped tremendously as far as what they’re doing in the program and what paths they should take,” she said. “It’s also the instructors helping them to mature into responsible adults.”

Holloway takes pride in knowing she is making a difference in people’s lives.

“I just know that whatever I do in whatever capacity I serve, I’m changing someone’s life,” she said. “Whether it’s a student, a co-worker or someone that just comes in, I have something to do with changing their lives and the paths that they take.”

The Chancellor’s Excellence Award began in 2001, and over the past 15 years nearly 300 TSTC employees have received the honor. Recipients are chosen based on outstanding contributions and achievements, commitment to excellence, and character. Honorees serve as agents of change in the advancement of TSTC initiatives.

TSTC prides itself on being “a great place to work” and is currently hiring for over 100 positions at its 10 campuses statewide. For information on open positions at TSTC, visit tstc.edu/about/employment.