Three Staff Members Recognized with Employee Excellence Awards

Each year these awards are given to staff members who have gone above and beyond the performance of their duties, and have demonstrated outstanding service to the University community. Staff members are nominated by University employees and selected by an advisory committee made up of past winners and Administrative Staff Council members.

The Excellence in Innovation and Creativity Award was given to Director of Student Accounts & Risk Manager Marc Maniatis. The award recognizes an individual who has best demonstrated innovative and creative ideas for the benefit of the University community and who has taken a unique approach to furthering the mission of the University.

In a nomination, a colleague wrote, "Although many people were involved with the approval and creation of the new University One Stop Student Financial and Registrar Service Office, Marc took an initial lead on the establishing the feasibility of the project and assessing all of the collateral logistical issues associated with creating the new student service area. This was a critical part of the project and took a lot of creative thinking."

I think everyone agrees with the impact the new One Stop has had on the University community as it relates to greatly improving our students’ experience with those service areas.

The Excellence in Student Service Award was given to Math Zone Director Yevgeniya Rivers. The award recognizes a staff member who is committed to and consistently works towards enhancing the quality of students' lives at the University and who actively participates outside the realm of their job responsibilities in student-centered events.

A colleague said, "Yevgeniya Rivers is very active with the students in the Math Zone, and tries her hardest to help all of them. She keeps a very positive environment, and encourages all the students that they can do what they think is impossible. Yevgeniya works with students to help them succeed not only in math, but in the rest of their University experience."

She is constantly looking for ways to improve the student's experience in Math Zone through talking with students and through students’ responses to surveys.

The Excellence in University Service Award was given to Office of Information Technology Senior Technician Cameron Tuttle. The award recognizes an employee for outstanding service to the University community and for consistently making a significant impact within their department and across the community while fostering the mission of the University.

A colleague said, "Cameron Tuttle exemplifies great customer service behavior: He is extremely courteous, very helpful, skilled, and acts with a sense of urgency. He has empathy and concern for faculty and staff because he knows how and why they need technology to work for their own jobs and on behalf of students."

Cam has a reputation for patience and kindness -- both are essential skills when helping people use technology!