Kelsey Bratcher
Leticia Duncan-Brosnan
Teacher Education team
Andrea Aleman
Robert Garza
Ann Eisenberg
Top photo: Kelsey Bratcher (left) receives award check
from Barry McKinney, director of student activities.
Second photo: Leticia Duncan-Brosnan (center) with
Lawrence Williams, dean of undergraduate studies, and
Patricia Glenn, associate dean, Tomas Rivera Center
Third photo: Teacher Education Student Services Team,
College of Education and Human Development
Fourth photo: Andrea Aleman with Mansour El-Kikhia,
associate professor and chair of the Department of
Political Science and Geography
Fifth photo: Robert Garza with Mary Peters, associate
director for operations, SWTXB SBDC Network
Bottom photo: Ann Eisenberg receives her award check
from Richard Diem, dean of the Honors College
(Photos by Mark McClendon)

University Excellence Awards and Richard S. Howe Excellence in Service to Undergraduate Students Awards

(April 11, 2009)--The 2009 University Excellence Awards Ceremony is 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 14 in the University Center Ballroom (1.104) on the UTSA Main Campus. Free and open to the UTSA community and friends, the ceremony will include presentation of five University Excellence Awards and two Richard S. Howe Excellence in Service to Undergraduate Students Awards. Each winner receives a certificate and a $1,000 award. The winners of the Team Spirit Award divide the award money.

This year's award winners are:

The Rising Star Award: Kelsey Bratcher, Assistant Director of Risk Education and Alcohol and Drug Programs, Office of Student Activities

The Rising Star Award recipient must be a new employee with less than three years of continuous service with UTSA and who has made significant contributions throughout the year to his or her area or to the university community. This individual has innovative ideas and has made significant contributions. He or she has a demonstrated record of improvement, has progressed through cooperation, initiative and are self-starters with a take-charge attitude. This talented employee has volunteered to assist when and where needed.

The Leadership Award: Leticia Duncan-Brosnan, Executive Director, Tomas Rivera Center for Student Success

The Leadership Award recipient must be currently functioning in a supervisory capacity, has promoted departmental and university mission and goals through actions and job performance, demonstrated exceptional leadership ability, fostered a positive and motivating work environment, maintained open communication lines within the department and throughout UTSA, encouraged professional development, demonstrated fairness and equity in resolving employee and work-related issues, and remained receptive to receiving constructive feedback concerning his or her job performance.

The Team Spirit Award: Teacher Education Student Services Team, College of Education and Human Development

The Team Spirit Award is awarded to a group of staff employees, limited to 20 per team, who has demonstrated exceptional ability to foster collaboration, communication and cooperation among colleagues internal and/or external to their department. The team's action has significantly improved customer service or increased customer satisfaction for specific UTSA customers, has significantly improved a work process or system, or has significantly increased the productivity and efficiency of an operation or work unit.

The Extra Mile Award: Andrea Aleman, Administrative Associate I and Lecturer II, Department of Political Science and Geography, College of Liberal and Fine Arts

The Extra Mile Award recognizes an individual with three years or more of continuous service with UTSA and who has taken the initiative to contribute to the success of UTSA through his or her outstanding contributions at work including extra efforts demonstrated in their accomplishments, timeliness and follow-through, and willingness to help fellow employees and provide good customer service with creativity, dedication, cooperation and reliability. He or she has performed at a level above and beyond normal job requirements that have resulted in furthering the department's and UTSA's goals and mission.

The Order of the Roadrunner Award: Robert Garza, Institute for Economic Development IT Operations Manager

The Order of the Roadrunner Award is given to an individual who demonstrates exemplary service and commitment to UTSA and the achievement of its goals through his or her actions throughout the year. This individual has enhanced the quality of work-life in ways that significantly increase productivity and efficiency for colleagues or customers to include developing creative solutions, and provided outstanding and ongoing excellence in services to faculty, staff, students and/or other UTSA customers. This is the highest honor that a UTSA staff member can receive for his or her dedication to the UTSA community.

The Richard S. Howe Excellence in Service to Undergraduate Students Awards:

This award is presented to faculty or staff members who have shown exemplary commitment to UTSA undergraduates, such as demonstrating a strong commitment to teaching and/or service to undergraduate students, serving as an advocate for undergraduate education, and engaging in activities to promote student access and success.