WARNER — Staff members of the College of Saint Mary Magdalen in Warner have received the prestigious Patriot Award, which is given to employers who support soldiers of the National Guard and Reserve.

On July 18, Dr. George Harne, president of the college, was presented with the award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense organization.

The award is given to civilian employers who play a critical role in the defense of the nation by complying with existing employment laws protecting the rights of workers who serve in the Reserve component, according to the organization.

The award is specifically intended for recognition of individual supervisors who go out of their way to help employees who are members of the Guard and Reserve, not necessarily an employer organization as a whole.

But in this case, the award went to several members of the college’s staff, including Harne, who helped Staff Sgt. Brian Duchesne, one of the college’s admission counselors.

Duschene returned in January from an 11-month tour in Iraq with the Army National Guard, college officials said. When he returned, his job was waiting for him, as promised.

“A lot of people in his office, and the administration of the college, deserve the award,” said Katie Moffett, the college’s marketing coordinator. “A lot of people really pitched in while he was gone.”

A unique feature of the Patriot Award is that it is presented to an employer who has been recommended by an employee. Harne was recommended by Duchesne.

“I know that the college has taken a large gamble on hiring a service member for the position that I have. As admissions counselor, I play a critical role in the growth and success of the college,” Duschene said in thanking the college.

“As a member of the Guard, they know that I can be called at a moment’s notice to support local and national missions that range from a few days, to weeks or even months. But they were willing to gamble on this and hire me. They knew with hiring me came the work ethic, motivation and professionalism that someone in the service (possesses), and that I was worth the gamble.”

Duchesne and retired Sgt. Maj. Jim Ross presented Harne with the award in front of faculty, staff and students on the College of Saint Mary Magdalen campus.

dseufert@newstote.com