Nominations now open for University Excellence Staff Awards

Members of the UTSA Custodial & Grounds Contract Transition team pose with President Taylor Eighmy and Veronica Salazar, executive vice president for business affairs and chief enterprise development officer, after receiving the Team Spirit Award.

JANUARY 6, 2025—UTSA is now accepting nominations for the 2025 University Excellence Staff Awards. Those looking to honor someone at the university who has been working diligently behind the scenes will have until Friday, February 7, to submit their nominations. Nominees should be full-time, benefits-eligible staff members at the director level or below.

Each spring, the University Excellence Awards program honors the achievements of Roadrunner faculty and staff who make UTSA an outstanding place to work. The University Excellence Award winners will be announced at UTSA’s ceremony on Wednesday, April 30.

This year, three new staff awards will debut: the Collaboration Champion Award, the Excellence in Customer Care Award and the Innovation Trailblazer Award. This expansion of the awards program is based on feedback from the employee community and a desire from the university’s leadership to further recognize the accomplishments of staff members.

“The University Excellence Award winners will be announced at UTSA’s ceremony on Wednesday, April 30.”

Below is information about this year’s staff awards:

• NEW Collaboration Champion Award ($1,000 prize, two winners): Honors a staff member who has demonstrated exceptional teamwork, partnership and the ability to foster a collaborative spirit.
• NEW Excellence in Customer Care Award ($1,000 prize): Recognizes dedication to providing outstanding customer service and fostering a welcoming environment.
• NEW Innovation Trailblazer Award ($1,000 prize, two winners): Honors a staff member who exemplifies exceptional creativity, forward thinking and ingenuity.
• Extra Mile Award ($1,000 prize): Recognizes an employee who goes above and beyond to contribute to the success of UTSA through his or her outstanding work contributions.
• Leadership Award ($1,000 prize): Honors a current supervisor at the director level or below who has advanced the mission and goals of their department and the university.
• Rising Star Award ($1,000 prize): Recognizes a new employee who has made significant contributions throughout the year to their area or the university community.
• Richard S. Howe Staff Excellence in Service to Undergraduate Students Award ($1,000 prize): Recognizes outstanding commitment to undergraduates, in honor of longtime UTSA engineering professor Richard S. Howe.
• Team Spirit Award ($5,000 prize distributed equally among members, not to exceed $1,000 per individual): Recognizes those exemplifying the true spirit of the Roadrunner community by fostering a culture of collaboration, teamwork and mutual support.
• Order of the Roadrunner Award ($1,000 prize): Recognizes exemplary service and commitment to the university. This is the highest honor a UTSA staff member can receive.

In addition to the new awards, UTSA is also implementing a new nomination review process to ensure consistency, fairness and alignment to university award criteria.

1. Staff submit nominations. Benefits-eligible staff and faculty can submit a nomination. Staff may self-nominate or submit a nomination on behalf of their peers.
2. Divisional review committee. Each division has a committee which, in partnership with their division leaders, will review nominees and select who becomes a Semifinalist.
3. Final Review Committee. Consisting of members of Staff Senate and one representative from each division, the committee will select the final Award Winners.

— Drew Vincent