The University of Connecticut Alumni Center recently hosted the ceremony for the 11th annual Spirit Awards, a program designed to recognize positive forces in the university employee community.
Three honors are distributed annually: the “rising star” award, “unsung hero” award and a team award. Any employee in good standing at any of UConn’s campuses can be nominated. This year, over 180 unique nominations were received, according to an announcement published in UConn Today.
“Every single person that has been nominated is truly an exemplary Husky,” said university chief human resources officer Lakeesha Brown during the ceremony. “[They] are the spirit of the champion DNA that we have here and bring something extra to the table.”
Karima Jackson, the assistant director of First Year Programs for UConn Waterbury, won the “rising star” award. It’s designed for newer members of the UConn community who are enthusiastic and with a strong worth ethic. Jackson also received an “inclusive excellence” citation, an extra commendation.
“A special citation is an optional add-on to a nomination across any category,” the award committee’s webpage explains. “The Inclusive Excellence Special Citation recognizes a university employee who…exemplif[ies] a commitment to diversity and inclusion in their daily work life, creating and sustaining an environment where all individuals are respected and valued.”
Halie Shea, assistant extension educator for UConn 4-H New Haven, and Michael Melnik, educational assistant for the Department of Communication, were both finalists. Melnik was also nominated for the “university citizen” citation.
“The University Citizen Special Citation recognizes a university employee or team who meets the criteria of a Spirit Award and… [is] motivating or inspiring colleagues to continually improve,” the Spirit Awards webpage says.
Two groups won team awards at the ceremony, including Greenhouse Studios, comprised of Brooke Foti Gemmell, Wes Hamrick, Tom Scheinfeldt, Isabell Sluka, Sara Sikes, Thomas Lee, Clarissa Ceglio and Gregory Colati, and the Office of Early College Programs team including Jessica Dunn, Melanie Banks, Nella Quasnitschka, Stefanie Malinoski, Carissa Rutkauskas, Todd Blodgett, Erin Blanchette and Christopher Todd.
The team honor is awarded to groups of two or more whose collaboration has demonstrated success and positive impact to the UConn community. Greenhouse Studios, one of the two winners, operates a self-titled “trans-disciplinary research incubator” collaborative academic project space housed in the Homer Babbidge Library. The Office of Early College Programs sponsors numerous opportunities for students in high school and in summer programs to earn college credit, such as the signature “early college experience.”
Four groups comprising over 25 individuals were nominated, including from departments such as the “SHaW Regional Nurse Navigators,” a team of nurses who provide support to SHaW programs at UConn’s regional campuses, and from the Center for Students with Disabilities, an office which seeks to enhance the college experience for all students.
The “unsung hero” award was also given to two winners: Sharon Daggett and Josue Zapata, both of Facilities Operations’ custodial division. Zapata was additionally awarded the “university citizen” citation.
Five other staff members were finalists for the “unsung hero” award: Mary Boston, Lara Ciaverini, Katie Halbruner, Christine Scott-Dougan and James Walker.
“These are my favorite events, because we get to stop and pause and think about what really makes UConn incredible,” Brown said.
Employees are nominated by staff members and reviewed anonymously by the UConn Spirit Awards Committee, their webpage says. The committee has numerous members from different university departments, and is chaired by John Armstrong, associate dean of students.
All employees are invited to the ceremony, which was livestreamed this year.
“We encourage you to brag and invite your colleagues to attend along with you,” the committee said to nominees.
The UConn Spirit Awards have been held every year since 2015, and have honored dozens of university employees who have had a positive impact on the UConn community. For more information about the awards and nomination criteria, visit the UConn Human Resources webpage at spiritawards.uconn.edu.