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Gabby Schwartz

Award Criteria

The Outstanding New Staff Award recognizes individuals for exceptional service or special accomplishments in Student Affairs at the University of Illinois. This award will be presented to a new staff member who:

• has been employed full time as a staff member (Academic Professional, Open Range, or Civil Service) in Student Affairs at Illinois for three years or less
• goes above and beyond to support students and/or co-workers
• is innovative, creative, and delivers outstanding service to students and/or Student Affairs
• is viewed as a promising leader within Student Affairs

Reviewed and scored by: OSPA Committee Members

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Christina Huppert

SENIOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, HEALTH PROFESSIONS
THE CAREER CENTER

Christina Huppert has dedicated her time, energy, and creativity to the success of Illinois students, with a specific focus on pre-health students whose professional aspirations are lofty. Her unwavering dedication to supporting students in their journey toward becoming healthcare professionals is unparalleled. This past year, she met individually with more than 600 students and engaged over 1,000 students in group programs and presentations. She meets students where they are, empowering them to navigate the competitive landscape of professional school admissions. She challenges students to grow, work hard, and persevere through obstacles.

Award Criteria

The Outstanding Staff Awards recognize unique contributions and achievements of individuals who advance the mission of Student Affairs at the University of Illinois. One to a Civil Service award will be presented this year to a recipient who:

• go above and beyond to support students and/or co-workers
• consistently provide excellent service to students and/or Student Affairs
• exemplify the Values of Student Affairs: student centered, justice, learning, wellness, and integrity

Reviewed and scored by: OSPA Committee Members

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Chris Lofton

CLINICAL COUNSELOR
COUNSELING CENTER

Chris Lofton is a consummate professional and an incredibly committed mental health practitioner. As a co-chair of the center's Triage and Crisis team, he is part of a team that manages and assists students at some of their darkest and most difficult times. What makes Chris unique is the lengths he will go to ensure students are stabilized, feel safe, and have a positive experience at a very vulnerable time. There are numerous times that Chris volunteers to stay well past our closing time (5:00 and even 7:00pm on extended nights) to ensure students receive comfort and continuity of care as they are hospitalized or transitioned into the care of a parent or friend. These times are incredibly stressful and challenging not only for students, but staff as well. Chris is committed to ensuring that staff have the support needed to assist with the process and to debrief following the student's departure. Chris has expertise in the suicide prevention and awareness and makes sure that our most marginalized populations have timely awareness and consultations for suicide prevention.

Award Criteria

The Outstanding Staff Awards recognize unique contributions and achievements of individuals who advance the mission of Student Affairs at the University of Illinois. One Academic Professional award will be presented this year to a recipient who:

• go above and beyond to support students and/or co-workers
• consistently provide excellent service to students and/or Student Affairs
• exemplify the Values of Student Affairs: student centered, justice, learning, wellness, and integrity

Reviewed and scored by: OSPA Committee Members

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Campus Ecofeminism Summit

Women's Resources Center

The Ecofeminism Summit is first and foremost about the intersections of learning and justice. From the knowledge and experience gained by students leading the planning process to the goals of each event, the Ecofeminism Summit strives to introduce students to new and expanded conceptions of climate, environment, feminism, and justice. Events strive to highlight untold stories of environmental impact and strategies for creating change and to inspire and motivate students to have productive discussion on the content they are learning. Guest speakers highlighted diverse and multi-faceted perspectives on environmentalism, social justice, and feminist theory.

Award Criteria

The Outstanding Program Award will be presented to a Student Affairs program that demonstrates creativity, innovation, and appeals to a diverse body of students or staff. The program must be offered in 2022-2023. (since funds awarded are for the upcoming year). The primary goal of the program must be Student Affairs-related. Individual academic courses are not eligible, however, the program may have an academic component. The program can be for students or staff; can be ongoing or an event; offer a service and be of any size. The program must impact University of Illinois students. In order to be considered, the program should:

• have had a positive impact on student and/or staff learning, transitions, retention or success at Illinois.
• exemplify the Values of Student Affairs: student centered, justice, learning, wellness, and integrity 
• be effective with relation to its stated goals

Reviewed and scored by: OSPA Committee Members

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Indigenous Modality-Making Collective

Charlotte Davidson – Native American House

This group-oriented assessment project engaged Indigenous modality-making to explore the academic identity growth processes of culturally diverse students. Indigenous modality-making is a non-modern form of creative expression that privileges and centers Indigenous knowledge systems. In this vein, students used beadwork practices to create a modality to serve as a handmade lens to better understand their cultural strengths to persevere at the U of I. The program provided a culturally valid assessment experience by nurturing decolonizing sensibilities and Indigenous values. The semester-long program included bi-weekly group check-ins, journaling, and group introspection.

Award Criteria

The Student Affairs Outstanding Assessment Award promotes a culture of assessment within Student Affairs through recognition of outstanding assessment projects throughout the division. Recognized projects will demonstrate clarity of purpose, methods/metrics, results, incorporation of results, and dissemination of results to stakeholders and/or actions taken as a result of conducting the project.

To submit a nomination for the Outstanding Assessment Award, please visit https://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/outstanding-assessment-award.

Reviewed and scored by: Assessment Committee Members

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Kimberly Otchere

DIRECTOR OF INCLUSION & TALENT DEVELOPMENT
UNIVERSITY HOUSING

Kim possesses a genuine passion for fostering an environment of inclusivity and equity. Her remarkable ability to engage individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives in DEIB work is a true gift. Under her leadership, University Housing has undertaken numerous initiatives that have significantly enhanced our commitment to DEIB. These include the establishment of staff affinity spaces, implementation of annual equity and inclusion trainings for all University Housing staff members, and the development and execution of culture and climate action plans, among many others.

Beyond University Housing, Kim is widely recognized and respected as a trailblazer and leader in the DEIB space. Her innovative approaches and strategic vision have not only transformed University Housing but have also inspired positive change on a broader scale.

The Outstanding Inclusive Excellence Award recognizes individuals for exceptional advocacy, service, or accomplishment advancing social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging activities in Student Affairs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Award Criteria

• Individual goes above and beyond to promote, create, or support experiences which center diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for students and/or staff.
• Staff member delivers outstanding service to students and/or staff related to equity, inclusion, belonging, or social justices.
• Individual is viewed as a leader on social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or belonging within Student Affairs at Illinois.

Reviewed and scored by: Inclusive Excellence Committee Members

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FOCUS

THE CAREER CENTER

The FOCUS (Fostering Opportunity, Community, and Unwavering Support) program is a collaboration between The Career Center (TCC) and the Office of Minority Students Affairs (OMSA) to address the gap in post-graduation outcomes and starting salaries between historically underrepresented, first-generation students and their peers to positively impact their career trajectory, earning potential, and future economic security. This year participating scholars (approximately 80 students) received up to a $1,000 scholarship to attend workshops and employer site visits to help scholars explore career options, develop career readiness competencies, cultivate a professional network, empower students to communicate their knowledge and skills, identify affirming work environments, access vital professional experiences, and negotiate initial offers to secure salary and benefits. Students also received mentorship from junior and senior, first generation students, most of who were former FOCUS scholars themselves.

The Outstanding Inclusive Excellence Program will be presented to a student-centered program which inspires learning related to diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, or belonging in Student Affairs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Award Criteria

• The programmatic experience should contribute to (1) a welcoming campus climate, (2) a sense of belonging or inclusion, and (3) a socially just and equitable UIUC community.
• The programmatic experience should be well-aligned with at least one core Student Affairs value (i.e., student-centered, justice, integrity, and learning).
• The programmatic experience should provide evidence demonstrating how it achieved its intended outcomes (i.e., include a statement of the program’s intended outcomes and evidence showing how it achieved those outcomes).

Reviewed and scored by: Inclusive Excellence Committee Members

This year the OSPA Committee received a total of 60 nominations in the four categories!

The committee wanted to ensure that the runner-up for each category was recognized today.

Their scores were .50 or less from being tied with the winners.

• Jordari Rene - The Career Center: Civil Service Staff Member
• Yolanda Williams-Goliday - Gender & Sexuality Resources Center: New Staff Member
• Tod Petrie - Illini Union: Academic Professional Staff Member
• GUARD - Fraternity & Sorority Affairs: Program

Nominees for Civil Service & Academic Professional

Civil Service

• Christopher Artis
• Tyler Balderson
• Elaina Camacho
• Hannah Driscoll
• Casey Freden
• Hannah Kim
• Manuel Makowski
• Todd Moeglich
• Jamie Redmond
• Jordari Rene
• Craig Stegall

Academic Professional

• Emily Barnum
• Beth Hoag
• Andrew Hohn
• Aaron Lewis
• Jari Minnett
• Lynda Minor
• Ann Marie Morgan
• Robert Parker
• Tod Petrie
• Nathan Runnels

Nominees for New Staff Member & Program

New Staff Member

• Alyssa Alfinito
• Amie Baumeister
• Charlotte Davidson
• Connie Ellis
• Jon Faw
• Flora Mendoza
• Tayler Mettler
• Evie Newman
• David Omana
• Carson Petersheim
• Evan Scott 
• Javier Valero
• Michael Warrell
• Tami Whiteaker
• Yolanda Williams-Goliday
• Nate Wilson
• Rachel Yang

Program

• Asiantation
• Cotton Club Fashion Show
• Day 1 Access
• Dial-A-Carol Program
• Emergency Facility Response Program
• Fall Break Cooking with Chefs
• Professional Portrait Lab
• Story Time at Orchard Downs
• Survivor Strategies
• Vending Machines (Self-Care Stations)

Nominees for Inclusive Excellence Staff & Program

Staff Member

• Luis Aleman
• Jazmyne Kellogg
• Daniel Schenk
• Cherisse Smith

Program

• Black History Month – System Wide Kickoff
• Career Certificate – International Students
• Cotton Club Fashion & Variety Show
• Fall Break Cooking with Chefs
• FOCUS Scholars Program
• Inclusion & Leadership Spring Break Trip
• Racism Untaught
• Urbana South Drag Show