Carl Rowan Jr., Chief of Police, Police and Public Safety (left), and President Ángel Cabrera (center) with Presidential Citation award recipients, (l-r), Thuan Ly, Administrative Services, Special Events, Police and Public Safety; Thomas Bacigalupi, Sergeant, Police and Public Safety; Brian Morrison, Police Officer, Police and Public Safety; Edward T. Gannon Sr., Master Police Officer, Police and Public Safety; Kim Taylor, Detective, Police and Public Safety; at the 2016 Outstanding Achievement Awards. Photo by Ron Aira.
Thomas Bacigalupi has been to the hospital every day to see the young mother he and his colleagues helped save.
Baciagalupi, a lieutenant with the George Mason University Police and Public Safety Department, was one of six Mason police officers to respond to a call of a woman in cardiac arrest at EagleBank Arena on Oct. 22.
Her 8-year-old child stood nearby as they worked to save the woman, who wasn’t breathing and had no pulse.
“My heart went out to the child; I knew there was an immediate danger that needed to be addressed,” said George Mason Police Officer Brian Morrison, who also responded to the scene.
“It was fantastic work everyone did. Everything worked out extremely well,” Baciagalupi said, adding that department members had just completed their annual CPR re-certification before the emergency.
Their Mason colleagues agreed. The officers were presented with Presidential Citation awards on Thursday at Mason’s annual Outstanding Achievement Awards in Dewberry Hall.
After the ceremony, Baciagalupi said he planned to head over to the hospital to see the woman he saved, adding that she’s been improving.
“One day as I was leaving, she whispered the words, ‘thank you,’” Baciagalupi said.
The seven Presidential Citations were the most ever awarded at once.
A list of all the officers who received citations is here.
Janet Walker. Photo by Ron Aira
The Outstanding Achievement Awards event is a wonderful way to appreciate Mason’s talented faculty and staff, said Linda Harber, vice president of human resources, payroll, and faculty/staff life at Mason.
“It’s just very special and uniquely Mason,” she said.
Two new award categories were added this year: The Nancy Murphy Mason Spirit Award sponsored by University Life, and the Jade Barricelli Spirit of Advising Excellence Award sponsored by the Center for Academic Advising, Retention and Transitions.
Amy Snyder and President Ángel Cabrera. Photo by Ron Aira.
Janet Walker of Human Resources and Payroll and Amy Snyder of University Life received spirit awards. The late Murphy worked at Mason for 22 years and was known for her spirited and dedicated service.
“It’s humbling. Nancy Murphy was an amazing woman,” Walker said. “I’m so glad the award exists; it’s a great legacy for her.”
Elizabeth Kalinowski Ohrt. Photo by Ron Aira.
Barricelli presented her namesake award to Elizabeth Kalinowski Ohrt of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. Barricelli is a former Mason adviser and the creator of the Mason Academic Advisor Network, also known as MAAN.
For the first time, the awards ceremony was documented by way of a graphic recording, a massive illustration done in real time by Laura Titkemeyer of Human Resources and Payroll. Awardees were encouraged to pose for pictures in front of the graphic.
“It’s listening to what’s being said and synthesizing it into graphic language that is easily understood,” said Titkemeyer, who learned about a similar technique called sketch noting in one of her classes in the Schar School of Public Policy and Government.
A full list of the awards given can be found here at the HR and Payroll website.
Laura Titkemeyer of Human Resources and Payroll creates a graphic recording at the Outstanding Achievement Awards. Photo by Ron Aira.