Officer Michquel Penn and Dispatcher Sara Anweiler of the Division of Police Services were recently recognized as the 2010 Employees of the Year for their dedicated performances as members of Police Services and the Kent community.

Officer Michquel Penn

The honor is given annually by the Department of Public Safety to the commissioned and noncommissioned officers who demonstrate exemplary service, response to community needs and high standards in ethical decision-making.

Director of Public Safety John Peach says that Penn and Anweiler's peers nominated them based on their commitment to setting examples of excellence in action.

"I have been honored with awards before, but this particular award means so much to me since it was my peers who nominated me," Penn says. "I am so happy to be a part of the outstanding Kent State Police Department."

Penn and Anweiler received the awards at the Aug. 19 annual department meeting where they both received a certificate and a gift card. Their names are also engraved on a plaque on display in the lobby of the Stockdale Building.

Penn joined the Kent State department in 2006 after working for the Brady Lake Village Police as a reserve officer and the Kent City Police as a dispatcher. Anweiler also joined the department in 2006 after serving as a dispatcher for the Fairlawn Police Department.

To learn more about the Kent State Police Services go to http://www.kent.edu/police/index.cfm.

By Brittany Macchiarola