The Staff Council's Support Staff Recognition Award recognizes extraordinary professional contributions and quality service of our University support staff and their integral role in advancing the University of Southern Indiana's mission and fulfilling USI's promise in preparing students to live wisely.
The winner of the award is announced at the annual Support Staff Recognition Award Luncheon.
To be eligible for the award, employees must be:
Benefits-eligible support staff employed for at least one full year
Full-time or part-time
First, second, or third shift
Previous recipients of the award are ineligible for three years. Current Staff Council representatives are ineligible.
The criteria to be nominated for the award includes:
Provides superiors service
Demonstrates excellence in the performance of job duties and responsibilities
Continually contributes to a positive, collaborate work environment
Exhibits exceptional resourcefulness, innovation, or creativity
Nominations may be made by any benefits-eligible member of the faculty, administration, or support staff, excluding the members of Staff Council. All nominating forms are kept confidential and ask that the nominators keep their information confidential. The nomination process is open from April 1 until May 1. The nomination form is available on the Staff Council website. Completed nomination forms are submitted to the current Chair of Staff Council. Once the award is presented, all nomination forms are shredded. In the case of multiple nominations for the same person, the nomination that best meets the criteria will be presented to the selection committee.
The members of Staff Council administer the award program and serve as the selection committee. Current members of Staff Council are not eligible for the award. In order to enhance the fairness of the selection process, names of the nominees are removed from the nomination materials by the Staff Council Chair before the selection committee members read them. Examples and achievements are only considered if they are related to the nominee's work in the department and/or university and contain specific support details.
Recipients of the award receive a letter of recognition and an award of $700. (Note: $700 is a gross, taxable award amount. Per IRS regulations, awards are subject to all applicable payroll taxes.) Recipients are also presented with a "traveling trophy."
2026 - Bryan Faw, Senior Administrative Assistant for the Political Science, Public Administration, and Philosophy Department
2025 - Kelly Certain, Senior Administrative Assistant for the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education
2024 - Stephanie Brown, Human Resource Assistant
2023 - David Dockery, Facility Operations and Planning
2019 - Michele Barnett
2018 - Susan Todd, Senior Administrative Associate for Enrollment Management
2017 - Linda Lefler, Senior Administrative Assistant for the Center for International Programs
2016 - Virginia Thomas, Administrative Assistant for the Art and Design Department
2015 - Denise Michael, Administrative Assistant for the Teacher Education Department
2014 - Chris Hogue, Laboratory Supervisor for the Chemistry Department
2013 - Michael Mikulski, Operations Assistant for Information Technology
2012 - Lucy Schenk, Administrative Assistant for Career Counseling
2011 - Terry Martin, Administrative Associate for the Pott College of Science and Engineering
2010 - Theresa Daugherty, Distribution Services
2009 - Ross Hettenbach, Lead Maintenance Mechanic for the Physical Plant
2008 - Mary Spahn, Administrative Assistant for the College of Business
2007 - Kim Schauss, Administrative Assistant for the Chemistry Department
The Support Staff Recognition Award was created in 2007. During USI's reaccreditation process, Staff Council representatives Chris Jines, Don Broshears, Terry Martin, Yvonne Floyd, and Sheree Seib, met with the evaluator, Dr. Joaquin Villegas from the Higher Learning Commission on September 26, 2006. Dr. Villegas informed Staff Council representatives that the HLC had a recognition award for support staff and suggested that USI develop a similar award. Chris Jines suggested having a "traveling" trophy to recognize the winning support staff member.
Over the next several months, Chris Jines, Karen Andersen, and Angela Torres met with the director of Human Resources to create the criteria for the Support Staff Recognition Award. President Hoops provided a $500 monetary award to be presented along with the trophy. The first award was presented at the University's Support Staff Luncheon in the fall of 2007!
In 2024, the Staff Council representatives - led by Chair Abby Yates - advocated to permanently increase the stiped from $500 to $700. It was approved by Human Resources after the Director of Human Resources, Sarah Will, met with the council.
