Finance & Administration Merit Awards
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 co-workers who excel at their jobs.
Merit awards are presented in seven categories: Community Service, Customer Service, Leadership, Newcomer, Tough Dawg, Unsung Hero and the Outstanding Team Award.
The award recipients in each category will be announced on stage and each award recipient will be presented with an engraved glass bowl during the Finance & Administration Staff Recognition Ceremony in May.
Individual Merit Awards
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. Community service award description click here.
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. Community service award description click here.
2023 Finalists:
Shaquavia Bell, Auxiliary Services
Brooks Oliver, Auxiliary Services
Jason Perry, Facilities Management Division
AWARD RECIPIENT! Jennifer Whitlock, Finance 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.
2023 Finalists:
Kimberly Eldridge, Finance Division
Kimberly Eldridge, Finance Division
AWARD RECIPIENT! Patricia Ross, Auxiliary Services
Melanie Sottile, Facilities Management Division
Justin Tucker, Facilities Management 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. Leadership award description click here.
2023 Finalists:
Lechandre Howard, Facilities Management Division
Carlyn Lee, Police Department
Alexander Nichols, Office of Emergency Preparedness
AWARD RECIPIENT! Adam Rainville, Auxiliary Services
Carlyn Lee, Police Department
Alexander Nichols, Office of Emergency Preparedness
AWARD RECIPIENT! Adam Rainville, Auxiliary Services
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.)
2023 Finalists:
AWARD RECIPIENT! Curtis Alan Folsom, Finance Division
Sara Gibson, Auxiliary Services
AWARD RECIPIENT! Curtis Alan Folsom, Finance Division
Sara Gibson, Auxiliary Services
Jack Gochenour, Environmental Safety Division
Hayes Thrasher, 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.
2023 Finalists:
AWARD RECIPIENT! James Maret, Office of University Architects
Christopher Render, Auxiliary Services
Nicholas Stonecipher, Auxiliary Services
Elena Williams, Finance Division
Elena Williams, Finance Division
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.
2023 Finalists:
AWARD RECIPIENT! Catherine Bielec, Finance Division
Leah Melnik, Facilities Management Division
Michael Seagraves, Facilities Management Division
Michael Seagraves, Facilities Management Division
Rusty Williams, Police Department
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!
2023 Outstanding Teams:
Dining Culinary/Nutrition Team, Auxiliary Services
Grounds Department, Facilities Management
Office of Sustainability/Waste Reduction Services, Facilities Management
University Human Resources, UHR
Office of Sustainability/Waste Reduction Services, Facilities Management
University Human Resources, UHR
