The Tradition of Excellence Staff Awards program was established in 1997 through the generous support of The Association of Former Students to recognize and reward superior service. Awardees are those who have made distinguished contributions to Texas A&M University through their dedication, initiative, outstanding achievements, enthusiasm, and attitude in their work. Awards are made annually and include cash gifts and other recognition. Candidates may self-nominate or be nominated by individuals or groups within Texas A&M University or The Texas A&M System. The awards program is administered by the Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President, which convenes a selection committee with representatives from among the reporting offices.

The 2024 awards program will include awards to ten staff who will each receive $1,000 cash and a framed certificate, one Leadership Excellence award of $1,000 cash and a framed certificate. and one Team Award of $250 cash and a framed certificate to each team member.

Award Categories and Eligibility

Categories

  • Tradition of Excellence: Staff
  • Tradition of Excellence: Leadership Excellence
  • Tradition of Excellence: Team Award

Eligibility

Staff Award

Nominees for the Staff Award must be those who are employed at least 50-percent time and have a minimum of two years of service with Texas A&M University Those with job designations of director or its variants (executive director, associate director, assistant director, etc.) and below are eligible to be nominated.

Team Award

Nominees for the Team Award must be team members currently employed with the Office of the Provost with a minimum of two years of service with Texas A&M University. Those with job designations of director or its variants (executive director, associate director, assistant director, etc.) and below are eligible to be nominated.

Leadership Excellence

Nominees for the Leadership Excellence award must be those who are employed at least 50-percent time and have a minimum of two years of service Texas A&M University. Those with job designations of director or its variants (executive director, associate director, assistant director, etc.) and above are eligible to be nominated.

Past recipients of an award are eligible for nominations after five years from the previous Tradition of Excellence Award. Recipients of the individual staff award or a team award may be nominated in the other award category beginning one year after receiving the previous Tradition of Excellence Award.

Eligible Units

  • Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President
  • Academic Affairs
  • Faculty Affairs
  • Enrollment Management
  • Research
  • Graduate and Professional School
  • Professional Programs
  • University Libraries
  • Global Engagement

Nomination Materials

Nomination Packet

The nomination will include (1) a completed Nomination Form, (2) a Statement of Qualifications or no more than two pages, describing why the nominee should be considered and including quotes or statements from others who endorse the nominee (if so desired), and (3) two Endorsement Letters.  The intent is for the packet to provide sufficient, relevant information about the nominee that is informative to the reviewers.

The nomination form will include upload buttons to attach the Statement of Qualifications and the two Endorsement Letters.

The Statement of Qualifications should cite specific examples of activities and service with unique instances of the following criteria, as well as other contributions that exemplify excellence.

  1. Commitment to Job Excellence. Demonstrates performance and commitment to the job that is consistently outstanding and frequently outside the normal scope of prescribed duties.
  2. Leadership. Exhibits leadership qualities within the context of his/her position responsibilities. Effectively makes decisions and uses resources wisely. Exhibits other demonstrated skills that exceed work expectations.
  3. Innovation and Initiative. Shows independent action and resourcefulness. Encourages new ideas and creativity. Facilitates, supports and/or leads continuous improvement initiatives.
  4. Support for Quality of Worklife. Creates a supportive work environment by encouraging professional development, teamwork, appropriate delegation, problem-solving and opportunities for others. Encourages co-workers and customers to contribute to discussion and decision-making
  5. Effectively collaborates within and/or across workgroups, offices, departments, divisions and/or system members, within the context of his/her position responsibilities.

Nominees’ eligibility regarding length of service will be confirmed with HR once the nomination is submitted. If you’d like to inquire about a specific individual’s length of service in advance of nomination, please contact your HR Hub for assistance. If a nominee is ineligible for the nomination, the nominator will be notified that the packet will not be forwarded to the review committee.

Nominate

Questions

Questions regarding the nomination process may be directed to Melissa Bohnsack in the Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President, mbohnsack@tamu.edu