2024 F&A Merit Awards
Individual Merit Awards and Outstanding Teams
Congratulations Merit Award Finalists and Outstanding Teams!
Merit awards are designed to encourage outstanding performance; reward excellence in staff achievements; and foster staff development by recognizing exceptional workplace creativity, innovation and sustained excellence in support of University business and administrative functions. The merit award program is a peer-drive process in which Finance and Administration staff nominate colleagues who excel at their jobs.
The award recipients in each category will be announced on stage and presented with an engraved glass bowl at the 19th Annual Finance and Administration Staff Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
Outstanding Team Award
Outstanding Team Award
Awarded to a group of two or more Finance & Administration staff members who have come together to serve the mission of the University and have demonstrated how their collective accomplishments are far greater than what we can attain alone. Teams may include staff members and collaboration internal to or with units outside of Finance & Administration. These teams have quietly created meaningful and positive change in the way commitments are delivered. Nominees demonstrate how YOU + ME - WE ELEVATE THE G!
Awarded to a group of two or more Finance & Administration staff members who have come together to serve the mission of the University and have demonstrated how their collective accomplishments are far greater than what we can attain alone. Teams may include staff members and collaboration internal to or with units outside of Finance & Administration. These teams have quietly created meaningful and positive change in the way commitments are delivered. Nominees demonstrate how YOU + ME - WE ELEVATE THE G!
2024 Outstanding Teams:
UGA Procurement Department, Finance Division
Stegman Coliseum Ceiling RehabilitationTeam, Collaboration with FMD, OUA, ESD, OVPFA,
and UGA-Athletics
Dining Facilities Maintenance Team, Auxiliary Services
Parking Gate Implementation Team, Auxiliary Services
Dining Facilities Maintenance Team, Auxiliary Services
Parking Gate Implementation Team, Auxiliary Services
Individual Merit Award Finalists
Community Service Award
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who engages in their community by unselfishly giving their time, services, and resources. Individuals are given a chance through the giving of their resources to leave their mark on the community they serve. Community service leaves an indelible mark that can transform many lives now and for generations to come.
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who engages in their community by unselfishly giving their time, services, and resources. Individuals are given a chance through the giving of their resources to leave their mark on the community they serve. Community service leaves an indelible mark that can transform many lives now and for generations to come.
2024 Finalists:
John Gagliano, Police Department
Britney Green, Police Department
Lynn Hix, Facilities Management Division
Jermaine Jones, Facilities Management Division
Customer Service Award
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who is an example to others by providing continual outstanding service to our customers--coworkers, supervisors, students, faculty, staff or the public. This staff member goes above and beyond the call of duty to meet customers' needs.
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who is an example to others by providing continual outstanding service to our customers--coworkers, supervisors, students, faculty, staff or the public. This staff member goes above and beyond the call of duty to meet customers' needs.
2024 Finalists:
Jonathan Bemid, University Human Resources
Jonathan Bemid, University Human Resources
John Paul Jordan, Auxiliary Services
Kimberly Perry Taylor, Finance Division
Tara Wood, Finance Division
Leadership Award
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who positively impacts and influences
others, who showcases the way F&A thrives on new ideas, who builds strong and productive
relationships, who develops new methods to improve productivity and efficiency not
only for their unit but for F&A and the University as a whole. To lead is to influence
people. Leadership focuses on developing skills and relationships between people rather
than focusing on the organizational chart. The F&A Leadership Merit Award recognizes
that we have influential leaders throughout our organization in multiple roles and
at all levels. A leader takes responsibility and, through everyday actions, collectively
brings a unit or team together where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
When a member of our division shows leadership, it influences others to be leaders
as well, which happens more naturally when relationships (often unseen in an organization’s
hierarchy) are created.
2024 Finalists:
Baileigh Barnes, University Human Resources
Bob Currey, Finance Division
Richard Klempa, Auxiliary Services
Tracey O'Malley, University Human Resources
Tracey O'Malley, University Human Resources
Newcomer Award
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who, despite lack of time on the job, has significantly contributed to the organizational mission and showed outstanding initiative, reliability and dedication to the University. (Nominees must have less than two years of continuous services with UGA as of the nomination deadline.)
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who, despite lack of time on the job, has significantly contributed to the organizational mission and showed outstanding initiative, reliability and dedication to the University. (Nominees must have less than two years of continuous services with UGA as of the nomination deadline.)
2024 Finalists:
Nathan Berger, Police Department
Natalie Kelley, Auxiliary Services
Kristopher Pinson, Facilities Management Division
Supreme Unukegwo, Finance Division
Tough Dawg Award
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who has endured extraordinarily difficult workplace circumstances (overcoming obstacles or challenges) with grace, good humor, patience and exemplary job performance.
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who has endured extraordinarily difficult workplace circumstances (overcoming obstacles or challenges) with grace, good humor, patience and exemplary job performance.
2024 Finalists:
Lena Anglin, Finance Division
Laura Carter, Environmental Safety Division
Laura Carter, Environmental Safety Division
Jeffrey Dalton, Facilities Management Division
Kirsten Jackson, Police Department
Unsung Hero Award
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who works hard and does his/her job well, but seldom, if ever, is recognized publicly for his or her work. This person is continually both a real benefit to his/her coworkers and a stable, dependable resource for Finance & Administration as a whole.
Awarded to a Finance & Administration staff member who works hard and does his/her job well, but seldom, if ever, is recognized publicly for his or her work. This person is continually both a real benefit to his/her coworkers and a stable, dependable resource for Finance & Administration as a whole.
2024 Finalists:
Aimee Ginn, Finance Division
Savannah Hembree, Office of Emergency Preparedness
Savannah Hembree, Office of Emergency Preparedness
Stuart Ivy, Auxiliary Services
Joshua Mallory, Facilities Management Division
