2008 Woodie Awards
Taking care of her girls
Shawnee Tucker decorates, cleans and cares for Hamilton Hall's third floor
Erin Bowen
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Features
Shawnee Tucker is the type of person who would give you the shirt off her back.
Recently celebrating her 43rd birthday, Tucker was ecstatic to receive a new pair of tennis shoes. After seeing her niece's eyes light up at the sight of the new shoes, Tucker told her niece to go into her closet and select a pair of shoes for herself.
Her niece chose Tucker's favorite pair.
"I know she doesn't have the opportunity to get as many new things as I do," Tucker said. "So I took a breath and let her have the shoes."
Tucker is a housekeeper for the third floor of Hamilton Hall, a sorority living-learning community residence hall in Central quad at Miami University. Each day, Tucker brings her compassionate attitude to work as she continually strives to go above and beyond her call of duty.
She makes the third floor of Hamilton like no other.
To celebrate fall, Tucker pasted a border of fabric leaves down the length of the floor walls. A basket, filled daily with candy, sits in the common area surrounded by Halloween decorations. A black cauldron serves as a trash bin. Large scarecrows are scattered throughout the floor. Artificial pumpkins and gourds dress up the bathroom windows.
Tucker, who describes herself as "holiday oriented," pays for everything out of her own pocket.
"I do it all for my girls," Tucker said.
Tucker frequently uses the term "my girls" to describe the approximately 90 female residents who live on her floor.
"When people ask me what I do, I say I take care of 90 sorority girls," she said. "Then they look at me like I'm crazy."
To maintain a relationship with her residents, Tucker says she tries to stay hip with words, clothes and television programs. She knows how much things change from generation to generation. Tucker doesn't want an age gap to prevent her residents from feeling comfortable.
Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Tucker was raised in both Ohio and Tahlequah, Okla., as the second oldest with six brothers. A 1983 graduate of New Miami High School, Tucker now lives in Eaton with her husband, Lannie, and her 18-year-old son, Benjamin. She also has two older children, Amy, 23, and Joe, 20, who live nearby.
Recently celebrating her 43rd birthday, Tucker was ecstatic to receive a new pair of tennis shoes. After seeing her niece's eyes light up at the sight of the new shoes, Tucker told her niece to go into her closet and select a pair of shoes for herself.
Her niece chose Tucker's favorite pair.
"I know she doesn't have the opportunity to get as many new things as I do," Tucker said. "So I took a breath and let her have the shoes."
Tucker is a housekeeper for the third floor of Hamilton Hall, a sorority living-learning community residence hall in Central quad at Miami University. Each day, Tucker brings her compassionate attitude to work as she continually strives to go above and beyond her call of duty.
She makes the third floor of Hamilton like no other.
To celebrate fall, Tucker pasted a border of fabric leaves down the length of the floor walls. A basket, filled daily with candy, sits in the common area surrounded by Halloween decorations. A black cauldron serves as a trash bin. Large scarecrows are scattered throughout the floor. Artificial pumpkins and gourds dress up the bathroom windows.
Tucker, who describes herself as "holiday oriented," pays for everything out of her own pocket.
"I do it all for my girls," Tucker said.
Tucker frequently uses the term "my girls" to describe the approximately 90 female residents who live on her floor.
"When people ask me what I do, I say I take care of 90 sorority girls," she said. "Then they look at me like I'm crazy."
To maintain a relationship with her residents, Tucker says she tries to stay hip with words, clothes and television programs. She knows how much things change from generation to generation. Tucker doesn't want an age gap to prevent her residents from feeling comfortable.
Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Tucker was raised in both Ohio and Tahlequah, Okla., as the second oldest with six brothers. A 1983 graduate of New Miami High School, Tucker now lives in Eaton with her husband, Lannie, and her 18-year-old son, Benjamin. She also has two older children, Amy, 23, and Joe, 20, who live nearby.
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