When the Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort and Spa recently honoured its outstanding employees for the year 2012, members of the Housekeeping Department stood out among their colleagues.

“Star of the Year” was former housekeeping staffer Judy Plunkett, who now works in the Guest Services Department.

The second runner-up award went to Gordon Grant of the Accounts Department, and the first runner-up prize went to Anthony Byfield.

Plunkett, who is from Moneague, St Ann, was elated.

“I am feeling overwhelmed because I didn’t expect it,” Plunkett told the Jamaica Observer North East, after collecting the $146,000 cash award, in addition to several other prizes.

The mother of five has been with Jewel Dunn’s River from its inception, and has worked assiduously to garner the wealth of experience she now possesses.

Plunkett said she was motivated by her family as well as her boss to excel at what she does.

Daine Golaube, guest services manager at the hotel, said the employee-of-the-year award is the most prestigious and is open to every employee on staff at the property.

Golaube said the award presented to Plunkett was “well deserved”.

“When you think about an ambassador, and that is what an employee should be, an ambassador to the company, and also a person that others look up to with respect; one that keeps standards and principles, and Ms Plunkett possesses all of those qualities,” Golaube said.

Selected as department of the year, the housekeeping employees were beaming with pride after copping several other top awards.

Other awardees were Carlene Jones, who won the prize for the most exemplary employee; Adrian Hall for Supervisor of the Year award; and Jacque Giscombe who was chosen as Manager of the Year.