Krista Granger, Continuing Education Specialist, has won Troy University’s Vergil Parks McKinley Award.

Granger, who has been a member of the TROY staff since 2018, received the award from Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor, on Thursday during a ceremony in the Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor on the Troy Campus. She was nominated by Laura Chambliss, Director of Continuing Education and Outreach.

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.

In her nomination, Chambliss commended Granger for her work with the two, free online classes offered over the summer by TROY.

“Krista recently assisted with managing registrations for the Leadership 101 and Personal Finance classes that TROY offered, in addition to her normal job duties and responsibilities,” Chambliss said. “She responded to thousands of emails and calls over a three-week period, assisting students with registering and getting into the system. There was a total of 18,092 unduplicated students for these classes, so the volume of calls and emails was astounding. Krista answered each one with a smile and returned calls and emails very promptly, leaving a wonderful first impression of Troy University on each person she came in contact with.”

Granger said she was surprised and humbled to receive the award.

“I am truly humbled,” Granger said. “Every one of my coworkers in Continuing Education and Outreach is at the top of their game, and I am honestly very proud to be a part of this team.”