The State Hygienic Lab congratulates Sherri Marine, client services manager, for being awarded the Board of Regents Staff Excellence Award. The award recognizes staff for outstanding accomplishments and contributions that have significantly benefited the University of Iowa, brought honor or recognition to the University, and had a significant positive impact on the state of Iowa.

Marine joined the Hygienic Lab in 1984 as a clerk typist. Her role has since grown exponentially as Marine now manages the Hygienic Lab’s Client Services, Sample Receiving, Media Preparation and Glassware Prep areas in both the Coralville and Ankeny laboratories.

“I’m very honored to win this award. I have worked with many very talented and deserving staff,” said Marine. “The fact that I received this award is a tribute to those around me and how they have mentored and guided me to be the person I am today.”

In addition to her prominent internal involvement with the lab, Marine has worked with a number of organizations dedicated to improving public and environmental health. For more than fifteen years, Marine has been involved with American Water Works Association, Iowa Groundwater Association, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Public Health Association.

“Sherri has been involved from the start with many of the projects and the development of procedures adopted by the State Hygienic Lab and other state agencies,” said Rhonda Drayfahl, Client Services supervisor. “She did, and still does, a lot of ‘leg work’ in the background during the initial stages [of projects and procedures.] I have worked with Sherri for more than 20 years, and have seen this time and again.”

Marine also volunteers as a classroom presenter at the Iowa Children’s Water Festival for children across the state held at the Des Moines Area Community College campus in Ankeny. To help students learn about the layers of the earth and the importance of keeping them free of contaminants, Marine taught students to build “edible aquifers,” demonstrating the way that water flows through the earth’s layers and accumulates in aquifers beneath the bedrock.

“Sherri puts a lot of herself into these projects and she deserves the credit for all her hard work and contributions. This award is one way to show how much she is appreciated,” Drayfahl said.