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A recent "Report on the American Workforce" from the U.S. Department of Labor revealed that "the average 34-year-old has already worked for nine different companies in his or her brief career…"

Meet Hamilton's Shirley Croop, and that statistic goes out the window.

Croop, staff assistant in the Office of Admission, just celebrated her 41st anniversary of employment. The longest-tenured staff member at the College answered a newspaper ad back in October of 1960 that read, "local college looking for secretary for Admission Office." She got called for an interview with Sidney Bennett, then secretary of admission, which ended with him asking, "When can you start?"

During her 40+ years here she witnessed the arrival of women on the Hill with Kirkland College, then the merger of Kirkland and Hamilton. She saw the many ways requirements for admission have changed, with standardized test scores, extracurricular activities and class rank gaining increased importance. Croop has been there for the Admission Office move from Root Hall – where most major offices were located – to the Ferry Administration Building, to its current home in the Elihu Root House.

Croop's day-to-day responsibilities include supervising staff members, processing applications for admission and doing statistical work for Rit Fuller, dean of admission and financial aid. She keeps statistics on early decision applicants and applicants by state, high school and minority group, to name just a few of the many categories. Right now the admission staff is heading into its busiest season, as application deadlines loom.

"We look forward to getting through it, then we ask ourselves, 'Where did January go?'" she laughed.

Croop is quick to admit that the part of her job she likes best is "meeting different people." Although she doesn't often get to meet the students whose applications she processes, she does meet a lot of prospective students and families while she takes her turn doing lunch-hour front desk duty in the Admission Office.

"Being the longest-tenured staff member at Hamilton College is certainly a tribute to Shirley. But it should not overshadow the bigger picture which must portray Shirley Croop as the smart, tireless, creative, flexible and loyal friend and person she is," Fuller said.

Croop has never had any desire to leave Hamilton or even switch to another department. She's seen many changes on the Hill but says the biggest changes involve the addition of computer technology and going on-line.

She also likes change and a challenge – the latest of which is getting acquainted with a new computer system.  "I like the fact that I can run my own job. I know what I have to do and just do it," she added.

Croop said one reason she hasn't wanted to retire is Fuller. "You couldn't ask for a better boss. It's not like an employee-boss situation. It's more like family — that's why I'm not retiring yet. I'm not ready to retire. I don't know what I'd do with myself."   

When she's not working, Croop enjoys travel and participating in church activities. Her husband, Chuck, three grown sons, one stepdaughter and 10 grandchildren do their best to keep her busy.

To say that Croop is a valued employee is surely an understatement.

"Let me give you a baseball analogy," Fuller said. "If someone starts a new college and asks me to be their dean of admission, I would draft Shirley in the first round. From typewriter to the latest technology, she is truly a special person."

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