By Hale Sheikerz, University Relations intern

Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 27 - April 6, 1995

The day after Aldora Green received a letter informing her she was recipient of a university award, she received a follow-up call from the university.

She says she was convinced they were calling to apologize for the mistake they had made, and to tell her she had not won the award. Instead the call confirmed that she had won the President's Service Award. "I never dreamed something like this would happen to me," Green said.

Green is be recognized at the Founders Day program. The award is presented to staff members who have demonstrated outstanding service to the university.

Green is a food-operations manager assistant with the Culinary Services Catering. She started working for Virginia Tech when she was 14 at the Faculty Center, (now the Donaldson Brown Center.) When the center closed for renovation and construction, she went to work at Radford University and stayed there for 22 years. She also won Radford's service award when she worked there. But she says receiving the award at Radford doesn't compare with receiving one at Tech "because Tech is such a big school."

She came back to work at Virginia Tech in 1982 when William Lavery became the university president. She assisted Mrs. Lavery with party decorations, arrangements and menu selection.

Her imagination is responsible for many of the decorations and floral arrangements seen at university functions. Coffee breaks, Commencement, official dinners, and even Founders Day are just some of the functions Green has decorated. She also decorates the dining halls, Hokie Grill and the Food Court.

Green describes herself as a workaholic. She starts her day at 6 a.m. and gets off around 2 p.m. But her work isn't done. She begins her "second job" in the afternoon. Green provides home care for elderly people.

She has strong feelings about the elderly not being able to stay at home and having go to a nursing home. For the past several years she has been taking care of elderly couples or widows in the Blacksburg area. Many are retired professors from Virginia Tech. Usually she goes to their home and cooks their meal. Sometimes she stays overnight as well. "It's a joy to see how much pleasure it gives them. It boosts their spirits up," Green says. "You don't get this in a nursing home. It's nice for them to be able to stay in the comfort of their own home.