Surprise, surprise

Tina Acosta, assistant director of facility services, receives a hug from Tulane President Scott Cowen on Friday (Dec. 14), shortly after learning that she was among a handful of university employees to win the President's Staff Excellence Award. Heather Hargrave, right, assistant vice president of facility services, nominated Acosta for the award. Typically, it's President Cowen who delivers the surprises when he drops in on staff members to present the annual award. This year, the president received an unexpected gift when he was presented the Tulane shield on a garden stake, which was wrought out of pipe by welder Demian Weidenhaft. Weidenhaft is standing in the background.