Staff Recognition Day Awards
Celebrating Excellence: Staff Recognition Day Award Winners
GUIDELINES FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS
- Senators who serve on the Recognition Committee may not nominate employees for awards, with the exception of the Pete Simpson Golden Gloves Award.
- Senators who serve on the Executive Committee may nominate a Senator for the Pete Simpson Golden Gloves Award only.
- Any other faculty, staff, or administrator may nominate staff members for these awards.
- Nominations do not roll over to the next cycle; a new submission must be completed.
- Only the respective online form will be accepted as a nomination for each award.
- All nominees must be currently employed and in good standing.
- "Staff" includes:
- Classified Staff
- Contract Staff
- Academic Year Administrative Professionals
- Fiscal Year Administrative Professionals
TIPS FOR COMPLETING AWARD NOMINATIONS
- Include examples to illustrate the nominee's abilities to fulfill the requirements of the award.
- Two weeks prior to the closing of an award, verify that the nomination packet is complete (this is very important if more than one nomination is required).
- Three to five sentences are more than enough to illustrate the nominee's abilities when answering questions.
More Information
Employee of the Quarter Award
Opens: May 7, 2025
Closes: May 30, 2025
$500 cash, tickets to cultural events and other rewards - see Employee of the Quarter
This award recognizes a benefited UW staff for his or her efforts toward excellence
in the workplace.
The nomination form below is for Employee of the Second Quarter 2025 (April - June).
Nomination Form2024 Employee of the 1st Quarter Announcement
2024 Employee of the 2nd Quarter Announcement
2025 All Star Team Staff Award - Nic Behnke, Cameron Peete, Curtis Harnish, Cameron Patey, & Jason Dienema
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$2500 shared between team members with a maximum of $1250 per person, and a plaque
for each team member
This award honors one (1) team of up to five (5) UW staff members who have worked
together as a team to complete a project; create a new program or process; or facilitate
a significant transition to a current project, program, or process as the University.
Recipients of this award will be staff members who are notable for their collaborative
skills and perseverance to complete a sizable task or accomplish a long-term goal.
2025 Off-Campus Award - Omotola Adewuyi & Jolene Velarde
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
This award honors two (2) staff members who work off the main UW campus and display an outstanding attitude toward furthering the mission and goals of their off-campus unit. Staff eligible for the Off Campus award include those working for distance education offices, UW extension offices, and medical residency clinics. Off-campus staff members are not excluded from receiving other campus awards.
2025 Custodian of the Year Award - Jeff Hill & Ted Markle
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
This award honors two (2) current UW staff member who exemplifies outstanding work ethic and professional competence in custodial services from Athletics, Operations, Wyoming Union, or Residence Live and Dining Services.
2025 E.G. Meyer Family Award - Ellyn Sturgeon & Milton Ontiveroz
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
This long standing staff award on campus honors two (2) current UW staff members who show initiative, helpfulness, dependability and a positive and cheerful demeanor.
2025 True Grit Award - Carlee Hughes & Michael Ziemann
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
This award honors two (2) current UW staff members who are noted for their flexibility, consistency, vision, grit, and/or problem-solving skills. Recipients of the True Grit Award may include staff members who work consistently through times of change and disruption, remain cool under pressure, and/or show tenacity when dealing with difficult tasks or projects.
2025 Employee of the Year Award - Jill Johnson
$2000 cash award from UniWyo Federal Credit Union, $2500 travel voucher from Pepsi,
and a plaque
This award recognizes one (1) UW staff member for his or her efforts towards excellence
in the workplace.
Nominees are current calendar year employee of the quarter and will be voted on by the Recognition Committee.
2025 Jodi K Humphrey Inspirational Staff Award - Mandie Reish & Sam Pehl
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
This award was established in 1995 in memory of long-time Department of Residence Life and Dining Services employee Joleen "Jodi" K. Humphrey, and honors two (2) current UW staff member who inspires people to do their best, remains positive under stressful conditions, serves as a positive role model to others, shows eagerness toward the job, displays a cheerful attitude toward customers, and motivates self and others.
2025 Pete Simpson Golden Gloves Award (Voted on by FAST Team) - Frankie Vogt
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
This award was founded in honor of outstanding staff/faculty member Pete Simpson and recognizes one (1) current staff senate member who shows outstanding participation on their staff senate committee, participation at full staff senate meetings, outstanding service for staff senate causes including community projects, and strong representation to constituents.
2025 Presidential Excellence Award - Li Teng
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
Given by the UW President, this award recognizes one (1) UW staff member who exemplifies excellence and demonstrates commitment to achieving the university's strategic plan.
2025 Skilled Trades Award - Smokey Strain
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
This award honors one (1) current UW staff member who exemplifies outstanding work ethic and professional competence in the skilled trades or in equipment, maintenance, or grounds positions. These positions include those in the EE05, EE06, or EE07 categories.
2025 Supervisor of the Year Award - Erik McCartor
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
This award honors one (1) UW staff employee who is an outstanding supervisor to one or more classified staff members.
2025 Unsung Hero Award - Pat McLean, Kelly McMicheal, Pamela Cue, & Clare Gushenan
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
This award honors four (4) UW staff members who deserve recognition for contributions beyond their position at UW without fanfare or a desire for praise.
2025 University of Wyoming Stewardship Award - Li Teng
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 24, 2025 at 5pm
$5000 for selected awardee, $2500 for awardees college or department, and $2500 towards a University unit or club of their choice
Given by the UW Foundation, this award honors one (1) current UW staff member who demonstrates excellence in stewardship through meaningful activities, excelled in relationship-building and stewardship, and a commitment to strong external relationships for the betterment of the University. To learn more about this award and the criteria, please click here.
- Please note this award is run and administered by the UW Foundation Donor Relations team. This award will be presented at Staff Recognition Day and the President’s Commencement Dinner.
2025 Deans and Directors Award - Kyle Summerfield
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1250 and a plaque
The Dean's and Directors award honors one (1) current UW staff member who embodies the exceptional leadership qualities, serving as an advocate for staff while demonstrating empathy towards staff members both in their professional roles and in their personal lives. This award celebrates those who mentio and guide others to have a positive impact on staff and their careers at UW.
Bucking the System Award - Erik Hansen
Opens: February 13, 2025
Closes: March 5, 2025 at 5pm
$1000 and a plaque
Given by a former UW staff member, the Bucking the System Award honors one (1) current UW staff member who exemplifies the true Cowboy Spirit: resilient, bold, and unafraid to challenge the status quo for the betterment of UW and its community. This individual is creative, incisive, innovative, and contrary. This award recognizes 1 (one) current UW staff member who demonstrates the following:
- Displays exceptional ingenuity and problem solving
- Challenge staid systems and create meaningful improvements
- Respects substance over image
- Perseverance and a commitment to go beyond the bounds to improve processes, programs, or workplace culture.
Years of Service
Staff Senate has recently compiled the Years of Service List for Staff Recognition Day 2025. The following UW employees will be honored for their years of service to the University at Staff Recognition Day: 2025 Years of Service
The Years of Service Awards recognizes those who have dedicated 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years. Please see the YOS Instructions on how to access and check your own years of service. If your milestone year of service falls after March 31st, 2025 you will be honored during the next year's staff Recognition Day in 2026. If you believe there is an error or omission, please contact Li Teng at lteng@uwyo.edu by February 14th.
Tip of the Hat
Have you received exceptional service or experienced a friendly interaction with a UW staff member or student worker that brightened your day? Give them a Tip of the Hat! Fill out the Tip of the Hat form to tell us about your experience. Your comments will be posted here, and the staff member will be entered into a bi-weekly drawing for fun prizes.
