Awards
For many years, the Division of Student Life celebrated outstanding staff through an annual awards program, recognizing colleagues whose contributions made a meaningful difference in the lives of students and teammates alike. Those honored through this program are listed below as a lasting tribute to their excellence.
As our division continues to grow, so does our commitment to recognizing great work — not just once a year, but consistently and personally. We have shifted toward a culture of ongoing recognition that celebrates role-model-level performance in real time, meeting people where they are and honoring the everyday moments that define who we are as a division. We believe every act of excellence deserves to be seen.
Student Life Shoutouts
The Student Life Shoutout is our way of saying we see you—and we want everyone else to see you too. Any Division of Student Life staff member can be nominated to receive a Shoutout in recognition of role-model-level work that reflects the values and mission of our division.
Recipients are celebrated in the Student Life Spotlight newsletter and receive a super-extra-most-special token of appreciation as a tangible reminder that their contributions matter.
BaylorPLUS Salutes
Baylor recognizes employees and teams who provide service "above-and-beyond" their typical duties. Salutes may be submitted by colleagues, students, or parents throughout the year for an individual faculty or staff member or a team of faculty/staff. Any faculty, staff, or team nominated will be recognized through the Human Resources newsletter on a monthly basis. Each Spring, a pool collected from staff submissions will be selected to receive a staff award.
👇 Baylor faculty and staff may recognize a colleague, team, or department here
👇 Baylor parents, students, and others in the Baylor community can recognize a Baylor faculty and staff member here
Past Awards
An award to recognize a staff member whose work exemplifies the immortal words of Samuel Palmer Brooks, “To you I pass the torch” and as modeled by Martha Lou Scott who dedicated her career to serving students with an immense amount of guidance, care and concern while loyally and joyfully honoring the mission of the university through significant contributions to the spirit and tradition of Baylor.
- 2009 – Ronda Kruse
- 2010 – Beth Ingram & Sue Sowder
- 2011 – Matt Burchett
- 2012 – Keane Tarbell
- 2013 – Elisa Dunman
- 2014 – Clint Patterson
- 2015 – Kristen Richardson
- 2016 – Safety and Security Education Officers
- 2017 – Sarah Ritter
- 2018 – Van Smith-Davis
- 2019 – Jamie Lopez
- 2020 – Pearl Beverly
An award to recognize a staff or faculty member who works outside of the Division of Student Life, but who helps us significantly accomplish our work in students’ lives. Perhaps this person is working in a student affairs type function but in another division (e.g., an academic advisor in one of the schools), or he or she may help us through the role they fill on campus (e.g., a staff member from ITS who is particularly helpful in designing a new website or system).
- 2004 – Rusty Kearns
- 2005 – Rishi Sriram
- 2006 – Neil Luft
- 2007 – Tiffany Hogue, Chris Holmes
- 2008 – Karla Leeper
- 2009 – David E. Garland
- 2010 – Sinda Vanderpool
- 2011 – Jackie Diaz
- 2012 – Gary Emmons
- 2013 – Kevin Karr
- 2014 – James Whitehead
- 2015 – John Garrison
- 2016 – David Henry
- 2017 – Betsy Willis
- 2018 – Michelle Cohenour, Holly Joyner
- 2019 – Sally Firmin, Regina Easley-Young, Amber Thompson
- 2020 – Ryan Erck
An award to recognize a staff member (regardless of level, years of service, or job classification) for superior customer service, hospitality, and encouragement to others.
- 2000 – Bethany McCraw
- 2001 – Louise Saunders
- 2002 – Matt Bonow
- 2003 – Carol Johnson
- 2004 – Rebecca Kennedy
- 2005 – Rose Goertz
- 2006 – Ronald L. English
- 2007 – Deborah Hall
- 2008 – Van Smith-Davis
- 2009 – Debbie Williams
- 2010 – Lee Ann Robelia
- 2011 – Elisa Dunman
- 2012 – Meghan Becker
- 2013 – Grant DeYong
- 2014 – Sandra Northern
- 2015 – Matthew Kwiatkowski
- 2016 – Lauri Rogers
- 2017 – Aakash Bhuta
- 2018 – Heather Gilliam
- 2019 – Maggie Griffin
- 2020 – Lori Cook
A recognition for a staff member who has been employed in the Division of Student Life fewer than five years and who has already made significant contributions to the life of the University.
- 2000 – Kim Scott
- 2001 – Jim Marsh
- 2002 – Steve Graves & Jason Sniff & Nicole Walker
- 2003 – Jeff Walter
- 2004 – Becki Majors & Deann Ross & Joel Scott
- 2005 – Ginny Henderson
- 2006 – Susan Matlock-Hetzel
- 2007 – Taryn Ozuna
- 2008 – Keane Tarbell
- 2009 – Marianne Magjuka
- 2010 – Keith Frazee & Emily Sandvall
- 2011 – Craig Willie
- 2012 – Astrid Beltran & Tiffanie Spencer
- 2013 – Jordy Dickey
- 2014 – Monique Marsh-Bell & Tripp Purks
- 2015 – Nathan Shelburne & Holly Widick
- 2016 – Sharyl Loeung & Josh Ritter
- 2017 – Tranquility Gordon & Daniel Haddad & Evie Swanson
- 2018 – Ian Philbrick, Geoffrey Griggs & Jamie Lopez
- 2019 – Ashley Fitzpatrick & Abbie Lawson
- 2020 – Vincent Phillips
An award to recognize a faculty member who partners with staff members in the Division to accomplish the mission of the University. This award is separate from the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (which is given for excellence as a faculty advisor of a student organization). The Outstanding Faculty Partner Award is an award that recognizes a person who has been a bridge builder.
- 2000 – Betsy Willis
- 2001 – Mike Beaty
- 2002 – Betsy Vardaman
- 2003 – Tom Hanks, Scott Moore, Nancy Pfanner
- 2004 – Cynthia Fry
- 2005 – Walter and Ann Bradley
- 2006 – Doug Henry
- 2007 – Maxey Parrish
- 2008 – Thomas S. Hibbs
- 2009 – Laine Scales
- 2010 – Paul Martens
- 2011 – Beth Farwell
- 2012 – Ian Gravagne
- 2013 – Brian Thomas and Bill Jordan
- 2014 – Elizabeth Davis
- 2015 – Steven Pounders
- 2016 – Kay Mueller
- 2017 – Rosalie Barrera, Kimberly Kellison
- 2018 – Jonathan Tran
- 2020 – Beth Allison Barr
An award to recognize a staff member who has brought significant positive attention to Baylor through publications, presentations, and leadership in professional associations or someone who has introduced a new idea or concept that has moved the department or division forward. This staff member is one who has helped light the way for others in the Division and the student affairs profession in general.
- 2000 – Dana Haines
- 2001 – Eileen Hulme
- 2003 – Joyce Miller
- 2004 – Sheila Graham Smith
- 2006 – Roderick D. Hetzel
- 2008 – Rishi Sriram
- 2009 – Bethany McCraw
- 2010 – Linda Cates
- 2011 – Randal Boldt
- 2012 – Jennifer Massey
- 2013 – Curtis Odle
- 2014 – Cheryl Wooten
- 2015 – Kelley Kimple
- 2016 – Jorge Burmicky
- 2017 – Ryan Richardson
- 2018 – Megan Patterson
- 2019 – Jordy Dickey
- 2020 – Ed Rogers
An award to recognize an outstanding staff member in the Division of Student Life who provides exemplary service in some type of support role (e.g., administrative assistant, clerk/receptionist, associate).
- 2000 – Sandra Tindell
- 2001 – Beverly Warlick
- 2002 – Cyndi Ballew-Patton
- 2003 – Lisa Garrett & Johnny Johnson
- 2004 – Fay Barkley
- 2005 – Gene Mandel & Lisa Propst & John Sharp
- 2006 – Sandra Northern
- 2007 – Amanda Horton
- 2008 – Joann Black
- 2009 – Ronda Kruse
- 2010 – Beth Ingram & Sue Sowder
- 2011 – Maria Rodriguez
- 2012 – Debbie Johns
- 2013 – Darlene Cale
- 2014 – Debbie Williams
- 2015 – Tanesha Ward
- 2016 – Heather Foit
- 2017 – Shelia Busby
- 2018 – Connie Sloan
- 2019 – Polly Flippin
- 2020 – Toni Kaska
An award for a staff member who has worked at least five years in the Division of Student Life and who provides leadership by their work and example. The recipient will be one who has given significantly of themselves for the University and has also made ways for others to achieve their goals.
- 2000 – Joyce Miller
- 2001 – Frank & Libby McAnear
- 2002 – Cassie Findley
- 2003 – Bethany McCraw
- 2004 – Elizabeth Wallace
- 2005 – Nadine Bruner
- 2006 – Pearl Beverly
- 2007 – Nancy Keating
- 2008 – Jim Broaddus
- 2009 – Jim Marsh
- 2010 – Cynthia Wall
- 2011 – Terri Garrett
- 2012 – Kim Scott
- 2013 – Becky Kennedy
- 2014 – Keane Tarbell
- 2015 – Sharon Stern
- 2016 – Suellen Husak
- 2017 – Dominque Hill
- 2018 – Jasmine Wilson
- 2019 – Meghan Becker
- 2020 – Geoffrey Griggs
An award to recognize a team from the Division of Student Life that has performed an outstanding service for students, the Division, or the University. For the purpose of this award, a team is three or more people working together on a regular basis (ongoing) or for special projects (specific, short-term projects or events). Membership of the team may be interdepartmental.
- 2000 – McLane Student Life Center Directors
- 2001 – Residence Life Master Plan Core Team
- 2002 – Place 2BU
- 2003 – Registrar’s Office
- 2004 – Tunnel of Oppression
- 2005 – Move In Committee
- 2006 – Health Center Work Group
- 2007 – Mental Health Summit
- 2008 – Team Body IQ
- 2009 – Baylor Interdisciplinary Poverty Initiative
- 2010- – Assessment Task Force
- 2011 – Staff Development Work Team
- 2012 – Students of Concern Team
- 2013 – More Than We Can Bear/My Sister My Self
- 2014 – Assessment Work Team
- 20015 – Sexual Assault Work Team
- 2016 – Student Life Social Media Team
- 2017 – Student Life Leadership Work Team
- 2018 – Baylor Public Deliberation Initiative
- 2019 – MARS (Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault
- 2020 – Health Services & Campus Living and Learning
An award given to a student assistant who helps his/her department accomplish its mission and goals through exemplary service, enthusiasm, and commitment. The student must have served in his/her position at least one academic year prior to nomination.
- 2000 – Ryan Smith
- 2001 – Lindsey Coffman
- 2002 – Not Given
- 2003 – Ryan Campise, Rene Palacios
- 2004 – Cayce Couch
- 2005 – Adam Brock
- 2006 – Moses George
- 2007 – Jenna Frederick, Chris Wilson
- 2008 – Kelly Mobley
- 2009 – Tchanavia Bryant
- 2010 – Jennifer Stanley
- 2011 – Abbie Lawson
- 2012 – Colleen Bauer, Morgan Little
- 2013 – Kelsey Fritscher
- 2014 – Taylor Graves-Boswell
- 2015 – Jonathon Gross, Jessie-Mara Trespeses
- 2016 – Susan Lee, Elijah Tanner
- 2017 – Breana Allen, Jamarcus Ransom
- 2018 – Atishay Jain, Kathryn Harrington
- 2020 – Anjelica Elizondo & Shevann Steuben
An award to recognize excellent contributions by a graduate assistant or apprentice.
- 2000 – Jana Penney
- 2001 – Kevin Brady
- 2002 – Carly Engibous
- 2003 – Shannon Taylor
- 2004 – Karin Klinger, Chad Morreau, Amanda Parsons
- 2005 – Jenni Adair, Danielle Brown, Craig Willie
- 2006 – Amber Bruner, Jeff Kirksey, Jessica Murphy
- 2007 – Leslie Poe, Tiffani Riggers
- 2008 – Matt Fulmer
- 2009 – Jared Slack, Chrissy Tluczek
- 2010 – Ashley Armstrong
- 2011 – Jesse Hines
- 2012 – Chad Mustain, Beth Roller
- 2013 – Monica Sandstrom, Christa Winkler
- 2014 – Caroline Clark, Joshua McPhatter, Alejandra Mendoza-Munoz
- 2015 – Kristin Abbott, Anika Strand, Cassandra Thompson
- 2016 – John Bernhart, Chelsea Brown, Jamie Lopez
- 2017 – Rob Covington, Sarah Madsen, Sierra Valdivia
- 2018 – Leah Gagnon Brigearhart, Kristin Koch
- 2019 – Megan Glover, Lacey Lehrmann, Chelsea Sentell
- 2020 – Rachel Bay, Marcus Franklin, Jillian Haag