Staff Thunderbird Awards

Staff Community & Culture Award

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.

Staff Mentorship Award

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.

Outstanding Staff Award

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:

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

Distinguished Initiative/Activity Award

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.

Personality of the Year Award

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.

University Department Award

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.

Lifetime Achievement Award

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.

Board of Trustees Award of Excellence

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

Advisor of the Year

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

Board of Trustees Award of Excellence

Dates	Staff	Faculty
2025	Matt Nickerson - Library	Ty Redd - Chemistry
2024	Shauna Mendini - Interim Provost	Brandon Wiggins - Physics
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

Commitment to Access & Belonging Award

2023-24: Cynthia Hawk, Landry Igiraneza
2022-23: Julie McCown, Christin Stephens
2020-21: Kholoud Al-Quabbaj, Department of Theatre, Dance & Arts Administration
2019-20: Angela E. Pool-Funai, Junice Acosta
2018-19: Silvia Kozlovska, A.P.E.X. Events
2017-18: History, Sociology, & Anthropology Department, Steve Barney
2016-17: Michelle Orihel, Scott Knowles

Commitment to Excellence Award

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

University Department of the Year Award

2025: Information Technology
2024: Center for Teaching Innovation
2023: Facilities Management

Distinguished Initiative/Activity Award

2025: Mackenzie Jenkins
2024: Kaity Kuhn
2023: Mike Miller

Distinguished Service Award

	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

Lifetime Achievement Award

2025: Ross Murdock
2024: Christine Proctor
2023: Mitch Bealer

Mentorship Award

2025: Famke Halma
2024: Shayla Inskeep
2023: Karson Rasmussen

Outstanding Staff Award

2024-25 Lauri Garfield Andrea Masterson	2023-24 Shelly Roy Dialea Adams
2022-23 Kendall Parry Alison Adams	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

Personality of the Year Award

2025: Kol Gibson
2024: Jana Stoneman
2023: Sara Greener
2022: Paige Raw
2020: Cyrita Lee
2019: Olivia Crowl
2018: Ryan Conti
2017: Matthew Laws
2016: Douglas Bennett
2015: Parker Hess
2014: Kevin R. Koontz
2013: Rebecca VanSleeuwen
2012: Dalaki Livingston
2011: Eric Waits
2010: Katherine Montoya
2009: Angie Smith
2008: Katie Hawkes
2007: Jefree Shirley
2006: Annie Draper
2005: Jerome "Tilt" Tyree
2004: Erin Elisabeth Barker
2003: Kalie Rae Casselman
2002: Richard T. Steadman
2001: John Bunkrall
2000: Jessi Kay Excel & Marci
1999: Dave McDonough
1997: Scott Collier
1996: Brit Baker
1995: Kristy Hatch
1994: Reza Razavi
1993: Sandy Lord
1992: Pete Johnson
1991: Jay Puempel
1990: Mark Holyoak
1989: Oscar Fakahua
1988: C. Tad Brinkerhoff
1987: Juan Henderson
1986: Mark Morman
1985: Stuart Jones
1984: R.Scott Price
1983: Bob Johnson
1982: Norman Adams

Staff Community & Culture Award

2025: Heather Ogden
2024: Nikki Koontz
2023: Adam Wilcock

SUUSA's President's Award

2024: Tiger Funk
2023: Tiger Funk
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