From part-time student to full-time star Published July 17, 2009 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Julie Horton has to feel pretty good about her first year working at Robins. An item manager in the 411th Supply Chain Management Squadron, she started here last year as a co-op student, working part time while finishing her college degree, and then starting full time in August. In that short time, she has already been recognized as one of the best employees on base. Ms. Horton said she was shocked when she found out she had won the Civilian of the Year Award in Category 1. "I was extremely overwhelmed," she said. "I didn't expect it at all. To me, I was just doing my job and trying to learn things. It's pretty exciting to be on base a year and then find out you won a really huge award. It was awesome." She started out managing parts for the H-1 helicopter, but two months ago switched to managing cockpit display units for special operations aircraft. She ships the units all over the world, including to Iraq and Afghanistan. "I never thought growing up that I would be able to help out in a war," she said. "It's kind of nice to sit here and know that the work I do every day keeps planes flying and keeps people safe. If I don't do my job, it could ground an aircraft. It's pretty important." MaryCatherine Joiner, item manager rotary flight chief for the 411th SCMS, nominated Ms. Horton for the award. "She came in as a co-op and she hit the ground running," Ms. Joiner said. "She very quickly picked up new procedures and policies. She would take the initiative to go and learn new things." Ms. Joiner also pointed out that Ms. Horton finds time to help others. She is a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. Ms. Horton acts as a liaison between the family and the foundation, finding out the child's wish and then submitting it to the foundation. On the wall of her cubicle she has several photos of children she has helped. She named each one, and noted which ones have died. It might seem like an emotionally taxing job for a 26-year-old, but Ms. Horton said she finds inspiration from the experience. "These kids will teach you so much," she said. "It makes you grateful for what you have. Those kids are happy and with what they go through, it's pretty (inspiring). You would be surprised how happy those kids are, given the circumstance. Like Daniel, who is 3 years old with leukemia. He's one of the happiest kids I've ever seen."