Spirit Award Winners Honored for Contributions to Community

Campus Life – UConn Today


Honorees in the third annual employee recognition program, the UConn Spirit Awards, received their awards at a ceremony March 25.

The annual tradition recognizes the efforts of employees, especially staff; building community; and promoting civility. The Spirit Awards program is the result of a survey conducted by the Something’s Happening Committee, which found a significant correlation between supportive interactions among colleagues and productivity on the job.
“There is a wealth of data to support the thesis that a happy workplace is a more productive and beneficial workplace,” said President Susan Herbst, who presented the awards. “When we have an environment marked by civility, mutual respect, and camaraderie, we all work harder and take more pleasure in our work.
“I am proud that at UConn, we take the time to pay tribute to those among us whose examples are testimonies to the quality of our university community.”
This year’s winners were:
Rising Star AwardWinner:  Omar Andujar, Office of Audit, Compliance, and Ethics, Minor ProtectionFinalist:  Amelinda Vazquez, Center for Career DevelopmentFinalist:  Nicole Bruno, Student Activities
Unsung Hero AwardWinner:  Melissa Foreman, First Year Experience and Learning CommunitiesFinalist:  Karen Bresciano, Dean of Students
Team AwardWinner:  CLAS Business Services Center. Kane Lynch, Michelle Cahill, Amanda Cobb, Melissa Gugliotti, James Ouellette, Caroline Jadovich, Beth Bernobich, Allison Goldsnider, Francesca D’Antonio, Gabrielle Fish, Kyle Lewis, Nick Franconi.Finalist:  Core E. Diane Bartlett, Linda Cunningham, Brian Delventhal, Chris Kelly, Irvin Cruz, Juan Perez.Finalist:  Expanded Food and Nutritional Program.  Mike Puglisi, Heather Peracchio, Sharon Gray, Heather Pease, Angela Caldera, Doris Little, Mickey Taylor, Zoraida Velazquez, Toni Ellis, Dianisi Torres, Erica Benvenuti.
Outstanding Peer AwardWinner:  John Armstrong, Off Campus Student ServicesFinalist:  Michelle Pereira Lopes, Office of the Vice Provost for Research, Sponsored Program ServicesFinalist:  Milagros Marrero-Johnson, School of Social Work






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