UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Nominations are being accepted through March 1 for the University Staff Advisory Council's (USAC) three Staff Recognition Awards.

Each annual award recognizes a staff member across the commonwealth who exemplifies the Penn State Values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community. 

All full-time staff members from every campus and all work units are eligible to be nominated, and anyone at the University may submit a nomination, including faculty, staff, administrators and students. Each nomination is considered on its own merit and will be given equal consideration regardless of type or level of staff position held within the University. 

The three awards are the:

• Staff Excellence Award, which recognizes a staff member who demonstrates integrity, respect and excellence in all aspects of their position;  
• Staff Morale Award, which recognizes a staff person who demonstrates enthusiasm and optimism to create a positive, inclusive and supportive work environment for all, and;
• Staff Leadership Award, which recognizes a staff person who demonstrates excellence in leadership and serves as a positive role model for others.  

Criteria and nomination forms for each of the three awards are available on the USAC website. Nominations should be received by March 1, 2023.

The nomination packet for each of the three awards should contain the completed nomination form, including the nominee’s statement of why the nominee deserves the award, and up to three letters of support, which must be included when submitting the nomination form. Questions may be directed to askusac@psu.edu using “Staff Awards” as the subject line. 

The annual awards will be presented at an afternoon gathering on May 19 hosted by Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi on the University Park campus.

About USAC

USAC—the voice for Penn State staff—consists of dedicated staff who act in an advisory capacity to the central administration; explore issues, policies and practices that impact staff; suggest revisions to policies and new policy initiatives; and advocate for staff welfare and development. USAC serves the Penn State president and administration through the vice president of human resources and accepts new members annually.

USAC is comprised of a diverse group of thirty representatives from across the commonwealth who welcome multiple perspectives, celebrate, and appreciate our differences, and unite around common goals. To learn more about the council, visit the Penn State Human Resources USAC website and for additional information, follow us on USAC Facebook, Yammer, LinkedIn, and Instagram.