Spring Awards
Call for Nominations
Nominations are being sought for Extension's Awards of Excellence in the categories below.
Awards Categories
- Support Staff
- Program Staff
- Administrative Faculty
- Academic Faculty
- Supporter
Awards Criteria
The following criteria will be used to determine the awardee in each category.
Support & Program Staff
Purpose of Awards
- Recognize outstanding staff who exemplify the University's standards for excellence and innovation.
- Acknowledge those whose efforts have inspired and supported the performance and achievement of others.
- Reward employees who show exemplary individual achievement, contribution and performance in their jobs and other related duties beyond their own offices.
Eligibility
- All currently employed support and program classified, county and student staff, full- or part-time.
Criteria for Awards
The criteria for these two awards closely mirror those described for the University-wide awards for staff, including the Wolf Cub, Annual Distinguished Classified Employee and Classified Employee of the Month Awards.
The rationale for matching the criteria of these University awards with our awards is that our awardee will subsequently be nominated for all three of these University awards, and our nominees will be nominated for Employee of the Month awards throughout the year.
The criteria are:
- Role model for others.
- An asset to the staff of his/her department.
- Concern for the University-at-large and its goals.
- Positive attitude towards fellow employees, faculty, students and the public.
- Positive attitude towards work (availability, cooperation, courtesy, friendliness).
- Quality of work (productivity, accuracy, timeliness, creativity, initiative, dependability, punctuality).
- Excellence in innovation and initiative (ability to creatively tackle projects with enthusiasm and accept and carry out additional responsibilities beyond regular job assignments).
- Professional development, awards received and community service activities (attendance at workshops, classes, lectures, committee and/or volunteer work).
- Outstanding contribution to support the educational mission of Extension.
Administrative Faculty
Purpose of Award
- Recognize exemplary administrative faculty who have consistently excelled in leadership.
- Demonstrate the value that administration places on faculty commitment to committee service, recognize and reward exemplary faculty service on Faculty Senate, University committees and Faculty Senate committees.
- Recognize exemplary administrative faculty who have consistently excelled in their position and have demonstrated a significant impact at the University.
Eligibility
- All currently employed administrative faculty, full- or part-time.
Criteria for Awards
The criteria for this award draws from those described for the University-wide awards for administrative faculty, including the University Foundation Administrative Faculty of the Year, University Foundation Innovative Impact, Outstanding Supervisor and Faculty Senate's Outstanding Committee Service Awards.
The rationale for matching the criteria of these University awards with our award is that our awardee will subsequently be nominated for all of the University awards for which the awardee is competitive. Our nominees will also be nominated for University awards as appropriate.
The criteria are:
- Outstanding contribution to support the educational mission of Extension.
- Contributed to and demonstrated a commitment to the University's core purpose and values.
- Positive attitude towards fellow employees, students, the public and work (availability, cooperation, courtesy, friendliness, helpfulness and presence).
- Support for the campus community in ways that exceed expectations and result in unexpected positive outcomes that support the University's mission.
- Demonstrated a substantial contribution to the nominee's field of expertise, a consistent commitment to professional development, an exceptional leadership ability and character as well as a performance that is above and beyond the scope of assigned responsibilities.
- Significantly improved customer service or increased customer satisfaction for specific University customers and/or significantly improved a work process, technology or have significantly increased the efficiency of an operation or unit.
- Demonstrated an exceptional ability to foster collaboration, communication and cooperation among colleagues and University constituents.
- Record of outstanding or long-standing service to the University as demonstrated through actions or level of participation (may include service on Faculty Senate and/or one or more University or Faculty Senate committees).
Academic Faculty
Purpose of Award
- Recognize, reward and celebrate outstanding outreach, teaching, research or creative activities.
- Demonstrate the value that administration places on faculty commitment to committee service, recognize and reward exemplary faculty service on Faculty Senate, University committees and Faculty Senate committees.
- Recognize outstanding contributions to international programs, program development, academic and global research or international research and teaching.
- Recognize an individual or group from the University community who exemplifies by word or deed that use of force is not an acceptable means for settling disputes.
Eligibility
- All currently employed academic faculty, full- or part-time.
Criteria for Award
The criteria for this award draws from those described for the University-wide awards for academic faculty, including the Distinguished Outreach Faculty, F. Donald Tibbitts Distinguished Teacher, Paul and Judy Bible Teaching Excellence, Global Engagement, Thornton Peace Prize, Outstanding Researcher and Faculty Senate's Outstanding Committee Service as well as the APLU's Excellence in Extension and the USDA's Regional Teaching Awards.
The rationale for matching the criteria of these awards with our award is that we will help our awardee through the nomination process of these awards for which our awardee is competitive. We may also help our nominees to be nominated for these awards as appropriate.
The criteria are:
- Outstanding contribution to support the educational mission of Extension.
- Significant record of excellence in outreach, teaching, research or creative activities (overall impact, sustained contributions, collaboration fostered) that have brought recognition to the University.
- Prominence in their field (sustained external funding, awards, recognition, request for speaking engagements, development of online programs and resources, publication of scholarly work).
- Demonstrated innovation (partnerships, funding, program delivery), teamwork (within and outside of Extension, with the University), cultural sensitivity and appreciation for diversity.
- Record of outstanding or long-standing service to the University as demonstrated through actions or level of participation (may include service on Faculty Senate and/or one or more University or Faculty Senate committees).
Supporter
Purpose of Award
- Recognize individuals or groups whose exceptional efforts have furthered the educational mission of Extension.
Eligibility
- Individuals must not be employed by Extension or the University on any funding source.
Criteria for Award
The criteria for this award draws from those described for University-wide awards for friends of the University, including the University Service and Silver and Blue Appreciation Awards.
The rationale for matching the criteria of these University awards with our award is that our awardee will subsequently be nominated for the University awards for which our awardee is competitive. Our nominees will also be nominated for University awards as appropriate.
The criteria are:
- Significantly enriched the advancement of the University.
- Contributed to the University's reputation as a leading institution of higher education.
- Demonstrated partnership, support, dedication, commitment and service to the University.
- Outstanding contribution to support the educational mission of Extension, including contributions to the success, expansion, enhancement or promotion of Extension educational programs for the benefit of the people of Nevada.
Awards Nomination Form
Administrators, faculty, staff and/or students may use the form prepared by the Associate Director's office to nominate candidates for an award. Contact Tracy Mendibles to receive a copy of the form. Self-nominations are also welcome. Nominations must include specific examples of how the nominee has met the award's purpose, eligibility and criteria requirements.
Awards Sponsors
The Extension Awards of Excellence are sponsored by Director and Associate Dean Ivory W. Lyles and Dean Bill Payne.
Awards Committee
The awards committee reviews nominations and makes recommendations on awards. Members are:
- Ashley Andrews, Chair
- Aurora Buffington
- Reshard Wilson
- Steve Foster
- Wendy Hanson Mazet
Past Award Winners
2018
- Candie Kevan, Award of Excellence for support staff
- Susan Lednicky, Award of Excellence for program staff
- Sarah Wright, Award of Excellence for administrative faculty
- Bill Evans, Award of Excellence for academic faculty
- J.B. Lukemberry, Award of Excellence for supporters of Extension
- Christopher Johns of Chefs for Kids, Award of Excellence for foundation supporters of Extension
- Katherine Hepworth, Award of Excellence for University faculty without an Extension appointment
2012
- Tatiana Gouem – Support Staff
- Anne Lindsay – Faculty
- Dale Hildebrandt - Supporter
2011
- Chad Waters - Support Staff
- Jessica Angle - Program Staff
- Staci Emm - Academic Faculty
- Sonya Sistare - Administrative Faculty
- Heather Graham-Williams - University Faculty not paid by Extension
- Tom Baker - Supporter
2010
- Imelda Espejo - Support Staff
- Pete Mangum - Program Staff
- Sue Donaldson - Faculty
- Margret Ferrara - University Faculty not paid by Extension
2009
- Leo Audet - Support Staff
- Deb Cobb - Program Staff
- Mary Wilson - Faculty
- Mae Gustin - University Faculty not paid by Extension
2008
- Jennifer Mescher - Support Staff
- Sue Lednicky - Program Staff
- Jill Ukeiley - Faculty
- Emma Sepulveda Pulvirenti - University Faculty not paid by Extension
2007
- Martha Barajas - Support Staff
- Olga Soto- Program Staff
- Clint Ulrich - Faculty
- Shernaaz Webster - University Faculty not paid by Extension
2005-2006
- Don Emerson - Support Staff
- Lisa Houser - Program Staff
- M.L. Robinson - Faculty
- Karen Kopera-Frye - University Faculty not paid by Extension
2004
- Melody Richards - Support Staff
- Crystel Montecinos - Program Staff
- Sally Martin - Faculty
- Judy Strauss - University Faculty not paid by Extension
2003
- Denetta Quackenbush - Support Staff
- Lee Ann Kendreck - Program Staff
- Matthew "Matt" Leone - University Faculty not paid by Extension
2002
- Marcia Moffitt - Support Staff
- Deborah Cobb - Program Staff
- Greg Wilson - Faculty
- George "Gus" Hill - University Faculty not paid by Extension
2001
- Penny Jenkins - Support Staff
- Barbara Toston - Program Staff
- Bill Kvasnicka - Faculty
2000
- Vicki Agao - Program Staff
- Lena Johnstone - Support Staff