Sofia Heredia receives UAH Facilities Excellence Award

Sofia Heredia is the recipient of the UAH Facilities Excellence Award.

Michael Mercier | UAH

Sofia Heredia, a custodial worker I in Custodial Services at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), is a recipient of the UAH Facilities Excellence Award.

Heredia began working at UAH in 2012. Her responsibilities involve cleaning restrooms, classrooms and offices, including picking up trash, cleaning windows and mirrors, dust mopping, sweeping and wet mopping.

She says the award was a surprise because she was not aware she had been nominated for it.

"I want to thank all the people who nominated and selected me," Heredia says. "I am humbled and blessed to work at this university."

Early morning hours are just one of the plusses of her job, Heredia says.

"I like the fact that I can start work early for me to accomplish all my duties," she says. "I like the atmosphere within my job. The people are nice to me. UAH has given me an opportunity to work in a stress-free environment."

Figuring out the buildings on campus was her first challenge when she started six years ago, she says.

"I would always get lost in the buildings," Heredia says. "It was like a labyrinth. All the buildings looked the same to me."

Now, she has the campus well mapped out in her mind. When not at work, she enjoys her family.

"I have four amazing children. I have 11 beautiful grandchildren and two on the way. I like to spend time with my children whenever possible," Heredia says.

"I have a wonderful and supporting husband, Alberto," who is also a UAH custodial worker, she says. "I like to garden and relax in my back yard."