At the December Staff, Student and Faculty Recognition Reception, Rick Sieber was awarded the Outstanding Biomedical Engineering Staff Service Award for 2003-2004. The award is presented each year to the administrative/professional, service or clerical staff member who contributes the most to our department in a service role as nominated by his/her peers. The award recognizes the importance of service both within the BME Department and across campus.

Sieber was nominated for the award based on his invaluable reputation as a key "go-to" person in the department. In his position as a laboratory animal technician, his responsibilities include maintaining the health of animals under his care and their environment. His steady assistance has kept many research projects running smoothly. Sieber has also volunteered to take on the responsibility of lab safety training and supervising BME's research lab student helpers. Sieber's willingness to pitch in and help "above and beyond the call of duty" was cited as a major contribution to earning this award.