By Joyce Mckenzie, The Tampa Tribune
Original publication date: April 20, 2011

Temple Terrace, Fla. — Stacey Auguste, a four-year veteran of the Temple Terrace communications center, was named 2010 Fire Dispatcher of the Year on April 12 by Fire Chief Keith Chapman.

Chapman said Auguste, 22, received seven 100 percent ratings last year when randomly evaluated on the manner in which she handled calls. A 97 percent rating is considering outstanding, he said.

The judging process was based on the protocol requirements set forth by the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch.

Admittedly surprised, Auguste, also a full-time student at the University of Tampa, attributed her ability to handle her workload in college along with the stress of her job to her Christian upbringing.

“I really enjoy working with people who need help,” said Auguste, who lives in Tampa with her Haitian-born mother.

“It takes a lot of internal compassion … and sometimes you take a moment to say a prayer,” said Auguste, a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Temple Terrace.

Sheryl Shingleton, services division commander whose duties include overseeing the city’s communications center, said Auguste has two qualities that helped her achieve the award.

“The biggest thing I can say about Stacey Auguste is that she is meticulous and detailed-oriented,” Shingleton said. “I have high hopes she is really going to go places.”

Communications supervisor Molly Best, who manages a staff of 12 full-time communications officers, said Auguste is the type of person who excels in all that she does.

“She’s an honor student at UT and in every single call she handles here, her skills are above average,” Best said. “She’s just very well-motivated and driven, and she is extremely intelligent.”

Auguste is a sophomore majoring in English literature and hopes to someday work as a journalist for the United Nations.

“In whatever I do, I hope to give back to my family members in Haiti,” she said.

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