Staff Awards

This award is given to a staff member who has built community across disciplines, departments, and divisions on campus and has contributed to cultivating a positive campus culture for employees and students.

This award recognizes a staff member who has excelled at mentoring others (colleagues and/or students) in achieving their career objectives through moral, social, and intellectual support.

Given to one classified and one professional staff member. Each year the Staff Association recognizes and honors two outstanding staff employees. These awards recognize the recipients' career in university service and their dedication to the institution.

Criteria for Selection:

  1. Possesses extraordinary enthusiasm for his/her job
  2. Demonstrates a sincere interest in students, faculty and staff
  3. Must have demonstrable current knowledge in their related employment and exhibit a high level of professionalism
  4. Works well with fellow employees and demonstrates a sincere interest in all areas of the campus
  5. A minimum of three years contracted employment at SUU required
  6. Recipients of this award are not eligible to receive it again for three years. 

This award recognizes an outstanding employee engaged in activities and initiatives that enhance access and belonging. These efforts include outreach into underserved communities, creating and implementing curricula and research that address the contributions and impact of diverse voices and perspectives, and/or engaging in meaningful and intentional efforts that help to improve campus climate.

This award recognizes a staff member who has gone above and beyond their job duties to improve operational processes and/or establish initiatives that support SUU's strategic goals.

Recipients of the Personality of the Year Award are campus characters that are remarkably funny, uncommonly kind, and a little quirky. These unique students make campus life exciting and fun, and they use their enthusiasm, optimism, and humor to lighten a situation or encourage a friend with a simple smile and impeccable timing.
The University Department Award is presented to one department, unit, or office on campus recognizing their outstanding contributions to the university and a commitment to the students of SUU.

The lifetime achievement award is given to a faculty or staff member who has excelled academically or professionally as well as demonstrated outstanding leadership ability and service to the institution during their career at SUU.

This award is intended to formally recognize the outstanding achievements of faculty and staff at SUU with a particular emphasis in teaching, scholarship, administration, innovation, and public service. The recipient is honored by a Certificate of Excellence presented by the Board of Trustees at a designated event in late spring, along with a cash award.

The award criteria for staff members will be quality service according to the staff member’s responsibilities, innovative practices, and other service to the university or the community.

The President's office may follow up with the nominator and nominee to gather additional information in order to provide the Trustees with sufficient material to make their decision. The nominator and/or nominee may submit information beyond what is specifically requested, but it is not expected.

A $2,500 award will be provided to each of the winners in the faculty and staff categories. We hope you will consider nominating candidates who have excelled in serving our students and the university.

The award criteria for staff members will be quality service according to the staff member’s responsibilities, innovative practices, and other service to the university or the community.

Staff Award Past Recipients

  • 2020:Pam Branin
  • 2019: Emily Forshee
  • 2018: Brandon Street
  • 2017: Donna Law
  • 2016: Pam Branin
  • 2015: Bill Heyborne
  • 2014: Christopher Ralphs
  • 2013: Eric Kirby
  • 2012: Rita Osborn
  • 2011: Brad Bishop
  • 2010: Carl R Templin
  • 2009: Rita Osborn
  • 2008: Mark Baker
  • 2007: Rita Osborn
  • 2006: Matt Nickerson
  • 2005: Pam Branin
  • 2004: Helen Boswell
  • 2003: Bonnie Mitchell Green
  • 2002: Carmen Aldredge
  • 2001: Greg Powell
  • 2000: Noemi Moses
  • 1999: Jean Reeve
  • 1998: Cal Rollins
  • 1997: Richard Wittwer
  • 1996: Michael Donovan
  • 1995: Judith Southworth
  • 1994: David Nyman
  • 1993: Nancy Glomb
  • 1992: Monica Moe
  • 1991: David Nyman/Doris Williamson
  • 1990: Doris Williamson
  • 1989: Robert Lauritzen
  • 1988: Lynne Finton
Dates Staff Faculty
2023 Donna Law - Community & Government Relations Matt Barton - Communications
2022 Stephen Lisonbee - Regional Services Rheana Gardner-Reeves - Photography
2021 Heather Ogden - Dean of Students William Heyborne - Biology
2020 Scotty Bauman - Women's Gymnastics Tyler F. Stillman - Marketing
2019 Christine Proctor -Admissions Processing Grant Corser - Hum & Soc Sciences
2018 Jayci Bash - Honors Program Jacqualine Grant - Biology
2017 Reece Summers - SUMA Matthew Nickerson - Library
2016 Eric Kirby - Student Services Emily Dean - Anthropology
2015 Andrea Stiefvater - ESL Todd Petersen - EDGE
2014 Paula Alger - Business Xun Sun - Music
2013 Eric Houle - Track & Field David Berri - Economics
2012 Peter Sham - Theatre Arts
2011 James Aton - English
  • 2022: Jayson Matlock
  • 2020:Andrea Donovan
  • 2019: Schvalla Rivera
  • 2018: James Sage
  • 2017: Jayci Bash
  • 2016: Jennifer Sorenson
  • 2015: Katya Konkle
  • 2014: Eric Kirby
  • 2013: Johnny Oh
  • 2012: Donna Eddleman
  • 2011: Dialea Adams
  • 2010: Pamela Branin
  • 2009: Lynne Brown
  • 2008: Katherine Nelson
  • 2007: Georgia Beth Thompson
  • 2006: Dr. Stephen D. Bennion
  • 2005: Paula Alger
  • 2004: Richard Banks
  • 2003: Major Richard Miller
  • 2002: Tony Jewkes
  • 2001: VaLynne Nicholes
  • 2000: Shana Bland
  • 1999: Andrea Masterson
  • 1998: Ray Pittman
  • 1997: Nolan Truman
  • 1996: Chris Nelson
  • 1995: Yvonne Parry
  Classified Staff Professional Staff
2021-22 Sheri Butler Rob McCollum
2020-21 Joni Edgel Eric M. Kirby
2019-20 Alison Adams DeNean Peterson
2018-19 Shane Flanigan Marsha Rowley
2017-18 Kaylynn Jensen Brian Fullerton
2016-17 Mike Smith Daniel Bishoff
2015-16 Dan Camp Brandon Armstrong
2014-15 Dallas Jones Josh Foremaster
2013-14 Quinn Mathews James Matthews
2012-13 Patrick Terrones Dale Orton
2011-12 Ross Murdock Paula Mitchell
2010-11 Mike Humes Lee Byers
2009-10 Clarisse Lunt Ben Johnson
2008-09 Jennifer Hunter Bruce Barclay
2007-08 Andrea Masterson Glen Pryor
2006-07 Kristina Stevenson Pamela Branin
2005-06 Dianne Werber Blaine Edwards
2021-22
Scott Carlile
Heather Garcia
2020-21
Katya Konkle
Michael Humes
2019-20
Teresa Andrews
Lance D. Jackson
2018-19
Brad Niederhauser
Cindy Moxley
2017-18
Annette Murray
Brad Brown
2016-17
Mary Jo Anderson
Ron Cardon
2015-16
Lynn Price
Kristin Wiggins
2014-15
Eli Smith
Jill Whitaker
2013-14
Tammi Miller
Bryce Caine
2012-13
Barbara Rodriguez
Dallas Jones
2011-12
Linda Liebhardt
Tiger Funk
2010-11
Rudia Heddings
John Shafer
2009-10
Paula Alger
Travis Rosenberg
2008-09
Sheri Butler
Neuman Duncan
2007-08
Stacia Thomas
Casey Bowns
2006-07
Rossina Felstead
Timothy Roy
2005-06
Lea Decker
Randy Humphries
2004-05
Brent Felix
Patricia Gardner
2003-04
Jeanette Ormond
Matt Vandenberghe
2002-03
Jean Huntsman
Matt Zufelt
2001-02
Pauline Bulloch
Eric Tait
2000-01
Beverly Anderson
Wes Brinkerhoff
1999-00
Marva Middleton
Marlon Steele
1998-99
James M. Crouch
Jeanette R. Slack
1997-98
Lois L. Bulloch
Kirt Bussio
1996-97
Ruth Challis
Gordon Slack
1995-96
Luann L. Briggs
Chris Gale
1994-95
Harman Bonniksen
Marlynn Smith
1993-94
Daphne Dalley
Cal Rollins
1992-93
VaLynne Nicholes
Dan McClanahan
1991-92
Gary Dunford
Betty Kingsford
1990-91
Dale Orton
Peg Thorley
1989-90
Sheila Johnson
R. Scott Phillips
1988-89
Eva Deen Milne
Nolan Truman
1987-88
Mary Leone Foley
1986-87
Lorraine Warren
1985-86
Maxine Stolk
1984-85
Sandy Gillies
1983-84
Zelma Alger
1982-83
Bessie Dover
1981-82
Ken Benson
1980-81
Jean Morrison
1979-80
Ward Robb
1978-79
Shirley Cowan
  • 2022: Tiger Funk
  • 2020: Douglas Bennett
  • 2019: Stephen Allen & Jamie Orton
  • 2018: Hayden Coombs
  • 2017: Parker Grimes & Ethan Kleinman
  • 2016: Jason Ramirez
  • 2015: Scott L. Wyatt
  • 2014: Richard E. Kendell
  • 2013: Steven D. Harrop
  • 2012: Jared Wilcken
  • 2011: Stuart Jones
  • 2010: David Tanner
  • 2009: Neuman Duncan
  • 2008: Dean O'Driscoll
  • 2007: Annette Murray
  • 2006: Mindy Benson
  • 2005: Dr. Neal Cox
  • 2004: Rick Brown
  • 2003: Dr. Abe Harraf
  • 2002: Sterling R. Church
  • 2001: Tom Douple
  • 2000: Dr. Gregory L. Stauffer
  • 1999: Michael D. Richards
  • 1998: Craig Foreman
  • 1997: Harold Hiskey
  • 1996: Neuman Duncan
  • 1995: Doris Williamson
  • 1994: Stuart Jones
  • 1993: Charlie Cooley
  • 1992: Betty Kingsford
  • 1991: Sterling R. Church
  • 1990: Rep. Haze Hunter & Sen. Dixie Leavitt
  • 1989: Douglas Baker & Michael Donovan
  • 1988: D. Mark Barton
  • 1987: William B. Bennett
  • 1986: Ron Aden
  • 1985: Larry Baker
  • 1984: Dale Hatch
  • 1983: Richard Dotson & Al Tait
  • 1982: Dave Taylor