Awards & Nominations

Mover and Shaker

Criteria:

This award recognizes an employee who exemplifies a proactive, “can-do” attitude and consistently drives positive change. The recipient initiates and encourages improvements to services and/or programs, demonstrating leadership and adaptability that inspires progress within the Division.

Eligibility:

Nominee must be employed at least half-time status.

Silent Superlative

Criteria:

This award honors an employee who consistently exemplifies a positive attitude toward staff and students while going above and beyond the expectations of their role. The recipient provides exceptional service even when no one is watching, demonstrating superior dedication and humility that strengthens the Division.

Eligibility:

Nominee must be employed at least half-time status.

Star Award

Criteria:

This award recognizes an employee who consistently delivers exceptional service and demonstrates a positive attitude toward students, staff and their work. The recipient demonstrates the ability and willingness to go beyond the expectations of their role, making a meaningful impact within the Division.

Eligibility:

Nominee must be employed at least half-time status.

Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award (New)

Criteria:

This award recognizes a Graduate Assistant who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism in supporting the Division. The recipient consistently delivers high-quality work, shows initiative, and contributes meaningfully to programs and services that enhance the student experience.

Eligibility:

Must be employed as a Graduate Assistant within the Division and at least half-time status.

(SALT) Outstanding Leadership Award (New)

Criteria:

This award honors a member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team (SALT) who exemplifies visionary leadership and commitment to the Division’s mission. The recipient demonstrates strategic thinking, fosters collaboration, and inspires others through integrity, innovation, and impactful decision-making that advances student success.

Eligibility:

Must be a verified current SALT member.

Vires Strength Award

Criteria:

This award honors up to two individual employees who demonstrate perseverance and determination in their role to enhance the student experience. Recipients are trailblazers who consistently put forth extraordinary effort to create a better environment for all, embodying strength and resilience in pursuit of positive change.

Eligibility:

Nominee(s) must be employed at least half-time status.

Artes Skill Award

Criteria:

This award honors up to two individual employees who demonstrate exceptional knowledge and expertise in their functional area. Recipients are regarded by peers and colleagues as trusted experts, recognized for their wisdom and deep institutional knowledge that strengthen the Division’s mission.

Eligibility:

Nominee(s) must be employed at least half-time status.

Mores Character Award

Criteria:

This award honors up to two individual employees whose character is consistently notable and admirable. Recipients lead with integrity, demonstrate unwavering ethical standards, and do the right thing in every situation, serving as role models within the Division.

Eligibility:

Nominee(s) must be employed at least half-time status.

Torch Team Award

Criteria:

This award celebrates a DSA team, unit, or department who has demonstrated exceptional service and teamwork over the past year. The recipient exemplifies collaboration and commitment to the Division’s mission, delivering impactful results that strengthen the student experience.

Better Together Award

Criteria:

This award honors outstanding collaboration between two or more DSA departments. It recognizes a program or initiative that exemplifies resource sharing and demonstrates sustained, intensive cooperation across the Division. The program should showcase how teamwork and partnership create meaningful impact and strengthen the Division’s collective mission.

Partner with a Purpose Award

Criteria:

This award honors a business or individual outside the Division of Student Affairs who has made a significant contribution to advancing DSA’s mission. The recipient plays a vital role in supporting our work with students and exemplifies purposeful partnership that strengthens the Division’s impact.

Eligibility:

Must not have received this award within the past five years.

Program/Project of the Year

Criteria:

This award recognizes an outstanding program or project sponsored by one or more DSA departments that have made a significant, positive impact on students and/or staff. The initiative should demonstrate excellence in planning, execution, and outcomes that advance the mission of the Division.

Eligibility:

The program or project nominated must be active during the year of the award.

Stone Soup Award

Criteria:

This award celebrates a program or team that demonstrates exceptional creativity and resourcefulness by delivering significant services or programs with little or no financial resources. The recipient exemplifies innovation and collaboration, turning limited means into meaningful impact.

Eligibility:

Nominee must be employed at least half-time status and have not received award in past two years.

Community Service Award

Criteria:

This award recognizes an employee who has provided significant volunteer service to the community within the past year. The nominee’s contributions should reflect a commitment to making a positive impact beyond the workplace.

Eligibility:

Nominee must be employed at least half-time status.

Keystone Award

Criteria:

This award honors USPS employees who consistently go above and beyond in supporting staff and/or students. The recipient demonstrates exceptional service that exceeds job expectations, maintains a positive attitude toward students and colleagues, and embodies the qualities of excellence in providing solutions through sustained reliability and unwavering support to the Division.

Eligibility:

USPS employees with at least two years of service in DSA and employed at least half-time status.

Outstanding Mentor Award (New)

Criteria:

This award honors an A&P, USPS, or Graduate Assistant employee who consistently dedicates significant time and effort to counseling, advising, and supporting students and/or staff. The recipient demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering growth, guidance, and success within the Division.

Eligibility:

Nominee must be employed at least half-time status.

Albert Einstein Award

Criteria:

This award recognizes an employee who demonstrates exceptional innovation by introducing an idea that significantly improves departmental or divisional operations. The idea should result in measurable benefits such as reducing or eliminating expenditures, generating revenue or creating positive organizational change.

Eligibility:

Nominee must be employed at least half-time status.

Hardee Research Award

Criteria:

This award recognizes an employee who has demonstrated scholarly or creative excellence by supervising the administration of an assessment instrument, conducting relevant research, or engaging in a creative project aligned with the professional mission of the Division or department. The research or project must have resulted in positive change within the Division or department.

Eligibility:

Nominee must be employed at least half-time status.

Excellence in Assessment and Impact Award (New)

Criteria:

This award recognizes an individual or team that demonstrates outstanding commitment to advancing student affairs practices through data-driven decision-making. This award celebrates efforts, new or ongoing, that use data to achieve meaningful objectives, improve departmental or divisional practices, and enhance the overall effectiveness of the work.

Eligibility:

Nominee must be employed at least half-time status.

New Employee of the Year

Criteria:

This award recognizes a new employee who has demonstrated exceptional performance and commitment since joining the Division of Student Affairs. The recipient consistently sustains superior work performance, exhibits a positive attitude, shows initiative and fosters a cooperative spirit.

Eligibility:

Employment with the Division must have begun in August of the previous year or later, and the nominee must be employed at least half-time status.

Lifetime Achievement Award (New, VP discretion)

Criteria:

This prestigious award, granted at the discretion of the Vice President, honors an individual whose career reflects extraordinary contributions to the Division of Student Affairs. The recipient has demonstrated sustained excellence, leadership, and commitment to enhancing the student experience, leaving a lasting legacy of impact and service.

Eligibility:

Determined by VP discretion.