Staff Merit

Staff Merit Awards

The Staff Merit Awards at Indiana University Bloomington honor staff members for outstanding service. Recognition is crucial as it acknowledges the hard work and dedication of staff, fostering a positive work environment and encouraging continued excellence. These awards help build a sense of community, improves communication, and showcases staff contributions.

While exhibiting our core competencies, staff demonstrate success in Student Success & Opportunity, Transformational Research & Creativity, and Service to Our State and Beyond; all pillars of our Indiana University Bloomington 2030 Strategic Plan. Nominations can motivate employees, enhance job satisfaction, and promote a culture of appreciation and respect. Eight winners are selected each year and awarded $2000 with our gratitude and appreciation for their commitment and excellence.

Please note: The nomination window is open from September 16, 2024 through October 18, 2024. Nominations may be submitted through the form below, which are then reviewed by a committee of staff members. Staff Awards Ceremony will be held in February 2025. If you need assistance with submission, please contact stmerit@iu.edu.

Criteria for nomination

Individual awards will be given based on the degree to which the nominee meets the four criteria:

  • Demonstrates excellence in overall work performance.
  • Puts forth an effort to improve self as well as to develop and recognize others.
  • Exhibits initiative and creativity resulting in improved operating efficiency of the department and/or University.
  • Enhances the reputation of the department and/or university.

To be considered, a nominee:

  • Must hold a full-time appointment.
  • Must have at least three years of continuous full-time service at Indiana University.
  • May have been nominated in the past, provided the nominee continues to meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Cannot have been bestowed the Staff Merit Award previously.

Nominate a colleague

Instructions

Please review the criteria carefully before submitting your nomination. Only nominations with complete documentation for nominees who meet all criteria according to the guidelines will be considered by the selection committees

To ensure thorough consideration, please make sure that all forms are completed in full before submitting them for review by the committee.

Supporting Documentation:

Please submit up to three letters of recommendation.

  • Each letter must be written by an individual and should be up to two pages in length. While recommendation letters are encouraged, they are not mandatory, and the format is flexible.
  • Each letter should clearly explain the reasons for the nomination, referencing specific examples where applicable.

For reference, the core competencies that define meritorious staff members can be found here.

 

Previous Staff Merit Award winners

2024
Barbara Breitung
Don Inman
Mary Lou Nierzwicki
Leslie K. Prince
Tana D. Sorrells
Marcey Jo Tidwell
John D. Walker

2023
Don Inman
John Walker
Leslie Prince
Marcey Tidwell
Barbara Breitung
Tana Sorrells

2022
Allen Hall
Shirley Richardson
David Sparks
John Taylor
Annie Willis
Timothy Womock

2021
Sara M. Erbes
Keith A. Wright
Michael D. Arsenault
Marie W. Monts
Russel Aynes
Daemon "Julian" Shell

2020
Thomas Mason
Sheri Sherrill
Kristy Dunlap
April Younger
Paul Aydt
Marty Shipley

2019
Ted Hardy
Melissa Ritter
Sharon Backfish
Charlie Shepherd
Jacqueline Harding
Sheryl Mobley

2018
Doug Bauder
Laura Plummer
Timothy Fleener
Ricky Tungate
Vickie Graves
Mike Paskash

2017
Gary Chambers
Carolyn Lipspon-Walker
Brad Bond
Jill Kenealy-Minch
Robert England
Judi Roberts

2016
Shing-Shong "Bruce" Shei
Lee A. Walters
Vicky L. Shrum
Timothy Thacker
Gayle Higgins
Connie Sue May

2015
Amy L. Cornell
Kathy Wyss
Linda Abbott
Teresa Barnett
Lisa England
John Ooley

2014
Amy L. Cornell
Jennifer L. Krebbs
Kevin L. Ashley
Dana Tzvetkov
Michelle Cornett
Kathleen Marie Hirons

2013
Jennifer J. Mitchner
David L. Sprinkle
Douglas Burcham
James Robert Gregg
Lana Fish
Alfred Jay Owens

2012
Sherri Bishop
Ruth “Chris” Cunningham
Glenda “Sue” Stowinsky
Scott A. Davis
Rob Henderson
Sandra McElhinney

2011
Mark W. Gebhard
Linda Hostetter
Jane E. Kelley
Gary D. Higgins
Krystie L. Herndon
Cindy Lepore

2010
Peter Goodwin
Kimberly Sowder
Bennie Flynn
William Niswander
Jason Baumgartner
Jim Gibson

2009
Jane Drake
Shirley Mundy
Lydia S. Stewart
Joseph Keifer
Christi Jones
Alita Hornick

2008
Ginnie Phero
Gregory Van Hook
George Bull
John Wilbur
David Villanueva
Erin Woodley

2007
Angela Miller
Terry Stigall
Philip Delay
Martin East
Ralph Evans
Errol Huffman Jr.

2006
Karla Allgood
G. Kay Lee
Don Erwin Jr.
Scott Rugenstein
M. Denise Gowen
Jim Schutter

2005
Candis F. Aker
Deborah K. Lane
Vicki Conley
Bernard L. Porter
Richard Hvale
Jane Rogan

2004
Mary King
Janet J. Long
Esmeraldo C. Burton
Nila Mosier
Maria Lillian Casillas
Michael Valliant

2003
Ruellen Fessenbecker
Joyce Regester
Mark Hobbs
Donna Williams
Susan Emmerson Quinn
George Turner

2002
Stacy Felton
Marilyn Estep
Wanda Melton
Trudy Jacobs
Sam Frushour
Jeanne Madison

2001
Ruth Aten
Kimberly Foust
David Breeden
Ernie Robertson
Rebecca Bryant
Harriet Castrataro

2000
Vicky Crowe
Roberta Partenheimer
Tom Hacker
D. Michael Jackson
Yolinda Cooper-Burdine
Sarah E. Jones

1999
Linda Lou Jean
Roger Crandall
Don Schmuhl
Mildred Richardson
Remedios (Medy) Alfonso
Sherry Fisher

1998
Par Clark
Veronica Goveia
Della Hutto
Lucinda Miller
Joyce Arthur
Teresa Reynolds

1997
Sue Hanson
Lois Plew
Ray Bowlen
Jose Fajardo
Tom Fallwell
Jackie Puterbaugh

1996
Eve Russell
Don Erwin
Shannon Ramey
Barbara Hawkins
Edda Callahan
Paul Spicer

1995
Tina Gilliland
Theresa McArtor
Janet Polley
Terry Schmidt
Mollie Duckett
Jim Allen

1994
Priscilla Osborne
Judy Drescher
Jim Burks
Leslie Sloan
Lisa Heinzen
Jim Beeson

1993
Nita Allgood
Phillip Coffin
Carrie Decker
Linda Stewart
Leah Nunn
James Mumford

1992
Jacqueline Danner
Darla Myers
Melvin “Ross” Bell
Wallace Corbin
Sandra Churchill
G. Edward Maxedon

1991
Marilyn Gregory
Charlene Conner
David Bruker
Ed Mauritson
Nelson R. Shaffer
Kathleen Sutton

1990
Karen M. Frane
Gelissia Honeycutt
Andy Adam
Robin Nordstrom
Susan S. Salmon
D. Michael Bailey

1989
Anna Fender
Mary E. Iverson
Kenneth Patton
Roy Welch
James Canary
Wendell Tate

1988
P. Paula Jentgens
Susan Abbott
Barbara Beard
Carl Scott
Don R. Brineman
Gayle Stuebe

1987
Derek Vint
Keith Parr
Mary Ellen Anterson

1986
Barbara Jane Clark
Art Nelson
Samuel C. Polley

1985
Constance Gross
John Black
Barbara Markman

1984
Stephen A. Studley
Otis P. Ritter
Janet L. Harnett

1983
Norma Attwell
Henry Burns
Judith Andrews

1982
Rebecca Sims
Virgil Stephens
Marjorie Blewett

1981
Joyce Arthur
Lee Hough
Lois Hendricks

1980
Juanita Hedrick
Kenny Cook
Grace Bareikis

1979
Grace Amor
Wes Bruner
Reba Smith