Danyal Jones, Title III Project Coordinator for the Troy University Montgomery’s Center for Student Success, has won the University’s Vergil Parks McKinley Award.

Jones, who has been employed by the University for more than three years, received the award from Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor, during a ceremony on Thursday at the Troy Campus. She was nominated by Breanna Gentry, Center for Student Success Director and Title III Project Director.

The McKinley Award is the highest honor that Troy University gives to a non-faculty staff member. It is presented quarterly to an employee who has demonstrated outstanding attitude, innovation and work ethic. The award was established by the late John McKinley, former Texaco CEO, in honor of his father, Vergil Parks McKinley, who was a Troy University professor during the early 20th century and was key to the development of the University’s athletic program. Winners of this award receive an engraved clock and a $1,000 stipend.

“Mrs. Danyal Jones always maintains a positive and professional attitude that sets an example for colleagues around her,” Gentry said in her letter of nomination. “She assists her colleagues without hesitation and genuinely wants them to succeed. Faculty and staff on the Montgomery Campus often come to her for advice or help with student servicing needs. Her determination to seek out solutions to help improve processes and aid in student success is like no other.”

Gentry said Jones has helped increase the number of students visiting the center by planning special events and activities.

“Though these types of tasks are not a part of her official ‘job duties,’ she feels the need to help Troy University be successful in reaching students,” Gentry said. “She does not know the word no, instead she says, ‘Let me see what I can do to help.’ With this attitude, she has provided excellent customer service to our students, needed assistance from faculty/staff, and is an asset to me as her supervisor. There is nothing that she is not willing to do to help Troy University succeed and see students succeed. She is extremely deserving of this award and the recognition for her hard work.”

Jones said she was humbled and honored to receive the award.

“I would like to say thank you so much for this award and Troy University,” Jones said. “It’s been a pleasure working with Title 3 at CSS at Montgomery. It has been a privilege and honor to work at Troy University.”

Jones said her position affords her the opportunity to help students be successful in their coursework.

“The Title III grant position brought me to TROY. I love higher education, and when I saw the opportunity to help students in a one-stop shop kind of thing, I jumped on it,” she said. “Just to know that we have an area where we could produce and an area where students could come in and get served, is fulfilling. I’m humbled to receive this award. I do things because I enjoy doing it. I enjoy creating events or just bringing morale up. To know someone else saw this, I’m honored. I have to thank Bre Gentry for nominating me for the award.”