Outstanding Staff and Program Awards

Each year, the Student Affairs Outstanding Staff and Program Awards (OSPA) celebrate and recognize the tremendous efforts of staff from every unit within Student Affairs.

Individuals, programs, and an assessment project are recognized for their exemplary commitment to professional integrity and excellence.

Each individual recipient is recognized with a $600 cash award and a commemorative plaque. We also believe in commending and encouraging impactful programs and assessment projects. Each year, $1,000 is awarded to the home department of both the Outstanding Program and the Outstanding Assessment Project recipients to continue or expand their services.

Recipients are honored at the End of the Year Celebration and OSPA Awards Ceremony in May.

Please contact Student Affairs Human Resources at sa-hr@illinois.edu with any questions.

2023-2024 OSPA Committee Members

  • Sonya Holley, OVCSA HR Director (chair)
  • Jennifer Rowell, SSIB – NSP Office Support Specialist
  • Marsha Mwilambwe, SSE – TCC Associate Director of Admin & Operation
  • MiRada Ritter, McKinley Administrative Nurse III
  • Mary Foster, Campus Recreation HR Coordinator
  • Abisola Smith, ODOS Asst. Dir for Basic Needs
  • Rachel King, University Housing HR/Payroll Coord
  • Ethan Hanf, Campus Recreation Aquatics Coordinator
  • Roger Hobbs, McKinley Admin Nurse III

Awards Criteria

Expand the sections below to learn more about each award and its nomination criteria.

Submission Deadline

Submission are due by 11:59 PM on March 15, 2024. 

Outstanding New Staff Award

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

Outstanding Staff Member - Civil Service

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

Outstanding Staff Member - Academic Professional

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

Outstanding Program

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

Outstanding Assessment Award

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

NEW! Outstanding Inclusive Excellence Staff Award

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

NEW! Outstanding Inclusive Excellence Program

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

SUBMIT A NOMINATION
Past Awardees

2023: Outstanding New Staff Award: Stephanie Cardoza-Cruz – La Casa Cultural Latina (SSIB) Outstanding Staff Member - Civil Service: Mary Foster - Division of Campus Recreation; Outstanding Staff Member - Academic Professional: Yun Shi - International Education (SSIB) Outstanding Program Black and Latinx Summit - (SSIB); Outstanding Assessment Award: BNAACC: Circuit Assessment - (SSIB); Outstanding Assessment Award: Campus Recreation: Campus Recreation Facilities Assessment (AHWS)

2022: Outstanding New Staff Award:  Nora Peterson – Women's Resource Center; Outstanding Academic Professional Member Award:  Dr. Mel Fenner – Student Affairs Technology; Outstanding Civil Service Member Award:  Joann Logsdon – Illini Union; Outstanding Program Award: Stop Asian Hate – Asian American Cultural Center; Outstanding Program Award (Honorable Mention): Student Memorial - Office of the Dean of Students; Outstanding Assessment Program: Time Tracking Project for the Student Assistance Center - Office of the Dean of Students

2021: Outstanding New Staff Award:  Dr. Ryan Young – Office of Minority Student Affairs; Outstanding Academic Professional Member Award:  Dr. Patricia Ricketts – The Counseling Center; Outstanding Civil Service Member Award:  Dr. Marsha Mwilambwe – The Testing Center; Outstanding Program Award:  We RISE – Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations; Outstanding Assessment Program: Office of Minority Student Affairs (OMSA) Interactive Annual Report

2020: Outstanding New Staff Member: Amanda Wahba, Assistant Director Fraternity and Sorority Affairs; Outstanding Academic Professional Staff Member: Robert (Bob) Wilczynski, Assistant Director University Housing and OSCR; Outstanding Program: Chapter Presidents' Leadership Academy, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs; Outstanding Assessment Project: Ally Training and Med School Outcomes, Counseling Center and Career Center

2019: Outstanding Staff, Academic Professional: Dr. Brian Moffitt, University Housing; Outstanding Staff, Civil Service: Joan Wingo, Women's Resources Center (OIIR); Outstanding New Staff: Justin Toliver, University Housing; Outstanding Program: Inclusive Solutions, University Housing Dining; Community of Care Liaison Program, Office of the Dean of Students; Outstanding Assessment Project: Inbound Leadership Researach & Assessment Project, New Student Programs and Illinois Leadership Center

2018: Outstanding Staff, Academic Professional: Laura McCulley, University Housing; Outstanding Staff, Civil Service: Angela Ennis, Office of the Dean of Students; Outstanding New Staff: Jorge Mena Robles, La Casa Cultural Latina, OIIR; Outstanding Program: GLOBE - Global Leaders Orange and Blue Engagement, International Education, OIIR; Outstanding Assessment Project: Illini Union Skyfactor Survey Report, Illini Union Marketing Department

2017: Outstanding Staff, Academic Professional: Melissa McDonald, University Housing; Outstanding Staff, Civil Service: Bill Breen, University Housing; 
Outstanding New Staff: 
Joseph Ballard, Office of Minority Student Affairs; Outstanding Program Award: 
Social Justice & Leadership Education, University Housing Residential Life; Outstanding Assessment Project: Leadership Capacity & Experiences of Fraternity/Sorority Students at Illinois, Illinois Leadership Center

2015: Outstanding Staff, Academic Professional: Patricia Wolfe Anton, University Housing; Outstanding Staff, Civil Service: Julie Knapp, Illini Union Document Services; 
Outstanding New Staff: 
Molly McLay, Women's Resource Center; Outstanding Program Award: 
Black and Latino Male Summit, BNAACC and La Casa Cultural Latina

2014: Outstanding Staff, Academic Professional: Jason McKean, University Housing; Outstanding Staff, Civil Service: Michelle Hart, Office of the Dean of Students, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs; 
Outstanding New Staff: 
Kenneth Importante, Asian American Cultural Center; Outstanding Program Award: 
Latina/o Resilence Network

2013: Outstanding Staff: 
La Tanya Cobb, Illinois Leadership Center; Dr. Jim McEnerney, McKinley Health Center; 
Outstanding New Professional Award Winner: 
Nick Osborne, Veterans Student Support Services
; Outstanding Program Award: 
Counseling Center Paraprofessionals Program

2012:  Outstanding Staff:  Susan Record, Bernadette So-Goodlin; New Professional:  Chris Ritzo; Outstanding Program:  5 Days 4 Change, Diversity and Social Justice Education. 

2011: Outstanding Staff: Greg Lambeth, Donna Wargo; New Professional: Jennifer DeLuna; New Program: Women of Worth, The Career Center, Illinois Leadership Center, and Women's Resource Center

2010: Outstanding Staff: Heather Horn, Judith Martinez; New Professional: Megan Mustafoff; New Program: 100 Strong - Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, OIIR

2009: Outstanding Staff: Adele Lozano, Betoel Escobar; New Professional: Kirstin Phelps; New Program: Food for Thought - Asian American Cultural Center

2008: Outstanding Staff: Laura Haber, Michael Reisner; New Professional: Khristian Kemp-Delisser; New Program: IlliNites

2007: Andi Cailles, Kim Rice; New Professional: Katie Kennealy; New Program: Illinois Leadership Certificate Program

2006: Curtis McKay, Marc Goldman, Sara Thompson

2005: Joseph Dilts, Lisa Burgoon, Phyllis Kirkwood, Robyn Deterding, Ross Wantland, Veronica Kann

2004: Cheryl Andersen, David Chih, John Gomperts, Karen Paulsen, Priscilla Fortier, Rick Ruppel

2003: Cathy Acevedo, Mary Cloos, Pat Ridinger, Willard Broom

2002: John Powell, Julie Misa, Kristin Duitsman, Sandra Yarnell

2001: Jeanette Weider, Jim Rooney, Maria Ramos, Nathaniel Banks

2000: Brenda McMullen, Edward Slazinik, Thomas Shields, Wendy Smith

1999: Carol Bosley, Gina Arnold, Hank Walter, La Vonne Novakofski

1998: Barbara Hein, Michael Griffin, Michelle MacLeod, Stanley Apperson

1997: Jennifer Peacock, Marilyn Best, Matt Ducatt

1996: Dennis Vidoni, Karen Hackett, Lynn Bushman, Rhonda Kirts

1995: Lori Lynn, Patricia Morey, Robert Aldridge, Susan Dickey

1994: Randi Schneider

1993: Dale Carruthers, Deborah Richie, Nancy Rotzoll

1992: Esther Patt, Laura Diekhoff, Patricia Endsley

1991: Eileen Gifford, Jill Biddle, Robert McGrew

1990: Elizabeth Gremore, Louise Savage, Steven Birdine

1989: Adlon Jorgensen, Pam Cler

1988: Mary Ellen O'Shaughnessey, Rita Clennon