Tradition of Excellence Awards
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.
Award recipients are those who have made distinguished contributions to Texas A&M University through their dedication, initiative, outstanding achievements, enthusiasm, and attitude in their work. Previous honorees are featured by year of award below. Awards are made annually and include cash gifts and other recognition.
Nominations are sought in early February of each year and eligible 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 2025 Tradition of Excellence Award Recipients
Visitor Experience Team Award Recipients 2025
Individual Category |
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Leadership Excellence Category |
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Team Category |
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Award Categories & Eligibility
Award Categories
Categories
- Tradition of Excellence: Staff
- Tradition of Excellence: Leadership Excellence
- Tradition of Excellence: Team Award
Basic Eligibility Requirements
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.
Award Nominations
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.
- Commitment to Job Excellence. Demonstrates performance and commitment to the job that is consistently outstanding and frequently outside the normal scope of prescribed duties.
- 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.
- Innovation and Initiative. Shows independent action and resourcefulness. Encourages new ideas and creativity. Facilitates, supports and/or leads continuous improvement initiatives.
- 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
- 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.
The Tradition of Excellence Awards may be awarded to up to 10 individual staff members 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.
Questions
Questions regarding the nomination process may be directed to Melissa Bohnsack in the Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President at mbohnsack@tamu.edu.
Tradition of Excellence Previous Recipients
2024
Erin Porter – Director, Aggie One Stop
Ben Milum – Assistant Registrar, Office of the Registrar
Adrienne Bentz – Associate Director, Office for Student Success (EAB Navigate)
Nicole Munyon – Financial Aid Advisor III, Scholarships & Financial Aid
Dea Polk – Dual Career Program Manager, Faculty Affairs
Meredith Ramirez – Associate Director, Office of Admissions
Daniel Mueller – Writing Consultant II, University Writing Center
Michelle Brown-Link – Administrative Coordinator II, University Libraries
Oscar L. Lopez – Senior Regional Advisor, Rio Grande Valley PSC, Office of Admissions
Mahjabin Chowdhury – Educational Researcher, IDEALS Lab
Leadership Excellence: Dr. Debra Fowler, Executive Director, Center for Teaching Excellence
Team Award: Office for Student Success Advising – Bonnie Bustos-Rios, Tabitha Fritz
2023
Cathy Cordova – Executive Assistant III, Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Clinton A. Patterson – Assistant Director of Mentoring, Center for Teaching Excellence
Morgan Gallagher Schweller –Senior Graduate Student Specialist II, Graduate and Professional School
Lyle Skip Slack – Director, Academic Success Center
Tiffany A. Tigges – Writing Consultant II, University Writing Center
Team Award: First-Year Experience Team – Meredith Malnar, Bradley Burroughs
2022
2021
Stacy Cohn – Business Administrator, Research Enterprise Business Services
Gregory Deitz – IT Manager II, Open Access Labs
Brooke Fletcher – Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, Academic Affairs Business Services
Casey Gros – Assistant Director, Scholarships & Financial Aid
Joel McGee – Director, Academic Success Center
Nicole Phillips – Financial Aid Advisor II, Scholarships & Financial Aid
David Poprik – Systems Administrator IV, Open Access Labs
Ra'sheedah Richardson – Assistant Director, Center for Teaching Excellence
Emily Weers – Director, Academic Affairs Business Services
Leadership Award Recipient: Vivian Medrano – Director, Office of the Provost
Diversity & Inclusion Award Recipient: Deyanira Ely, Executive Assistant to the Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity – Office of the Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity
Team Award: High Containment Laboratory Support Team – Jessica Cobos, Frank Cox, Clifton Perry, David Perez, Todd Wisner, Wendy Wright
2020
Taharraa Hill – Executive Assistant II, Office for Student Success
Terra Bissett – Administrative Coordinator II, Office of Registrar
Venesa Heidick – Registrar, Office of Registrar
Stephanie Towns – Senior Proposal Administrator II, Sponsored Research Services
Robyn Pearson – Senior Research Development Officer, Texas A&M Energy Institute
Prashanti Rao – Software Applications Developer Ill, Enterprise Information Systems
Brian Thigpin – Executive Assistant II, Public Partnership and Outreach
JaeCee Crawford – Technology Coordinator, Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
Leadership Award Recipient: Crystal Riles – Senior Regional Advisor, Office of Admission
Diversity & Inclusion Award Recipient: Suzanne Droleskey – Executive Director for Effectiveness, Public Partnership and Outreach
Team Award: Scholarships & Financial Aid –
Rebecca Baker, Bridgette Ingram, Erin Porter, Deanna Holder, Robert Fishkind, Estela Feagin, Heather Fountain, David Fountain, Kevin Kraeft
2019
Rachelle Dudley – Director and Chief of Staff, Graduate and Professional Studies
Connie Ealy – Assistant Director, Admissions
Brandie Eneks – Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Academic Services
Marc Huffstickler – Software Applications Developer IV, Enterprise Information Systems
James Murphy – Assistant Director, Admissions
Anindita Sen – Ssoftware Applications Developer III, Enterprise Information Systems
Carolyn Stout – Assistant Director, Scholarships & Financial Aid
Mofie Thomas – Business Coordinator III, Academic Affairs Business Services
Alma Reneé Weidemann – Bbusiness Administrator II, Research Enterprise Business Services
Leadership Award Recipient: Shannon Walton – DDirector, Graduate and Professional Studies
Diversity & Inclusion Award Recipient: Jennifer McGee Reyes – Director for Assessment and Diversity Initiatives, Office of the Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity
Team Award: Aggie Honor System Office –
Timothy Powers, Aftin Blair Alvarado
2018
Wayne Pecena – KAMU-TV/FM
Elizabeth Fosset – Admissions Processing
Susan Wolff – Research Communications
Linda Thurman – Office of Graduate & Professional Studies
Leadership Award Recipient: Rachel Krolczyk – Office of Graduate & Professional Studies
Diversity & Inclusion Award Recipient: Katelin Clark – Office of Admissions
Team Award: Writing Consultant Administrative Team, University Writing Center –
Thadeus Bowerman, Florence Davies, Nicholas Cenegy, Stephen McGuire and Nancy Vasquez
2017
Mark Garner – Instructional Media Services
Laura Ann Heard – Office of the Registrar
Georgia Hines – Undergraduate Studies
Mathew Johnson – Office of the Registrar
Jennifer Kuehn – Office of Admissions
Karen Lepley – Scholarships & Financial Aid
Melanie Monroe – Office of the Registrar
Kasandra Phillips – DAL Admission Recruitment
Jennifer Ann Scasta – Office of Admissions
Nancy Vasquez – University Writing Center
Leadership Award Recipient: Gayla Christiansen – Texas A&M University Press
Diversity & Inclusion Award Recipient: Amanda Z. Johnson – Public Partnership & Outreach
Team Award: Admissions Customer Service, Office of Admissions –
Joyce Dendy, Stephanie Love, Mike Pickett, Angela Reinecke, Steve Smith and Debbie Turner
2016
Virginie Blum – Dean of Faculties
Valerie Coleman – Academic Success Center
Margot Goff – Office of Data & Research Services
Jess Junek – Academic Affairs Business Services
Kevin Kraeft – Provost IT Office
Gracie Lara – Public Partnership & Outreach
Barbara Lee – Academic Success Center
Oscar Lopez – Office of Admissions
Angela Parkoff – Scholarships & Financial Aid
Paul Pausky – Career Center
Dale Sharp – Provost IT Office
Leadership Excellence Award: Catherine Roueche Herdman – Office of Admissions
Diversity and Inclusion Award: Mark Dawson – Academic Affairs Business Services
Team Award: Scholarships & Financial Aid, Veterans Service Office Team –
Leah Morales, Clay Bassham, Charlotte Farrington, Rebecca Thompson and Ashley Drake,
2015
Dave Fountain – Enterprise Information Systems
Bridgette Ingram – Scholarships & Financial Aid
Timothy Powers – Aggie Honor System Office
David Tofel – Office of Admissions
Emily Weers – Academic Affairs Business Services
2014
2013
Jane Flaherty – Global Program Support
Jeannie Laird – Academic Affairs Business Services
Alberta Ortiz-Ganem – Office of the Provost
Suzanne Sealey – Scholarships & Financial Aid
2012
Roger Martinez – Office of Admissions
Gloria Masso – Office of Admissions
Michelle Walker – Office of Admissions
Julie Wilson – Office of Graduate Studies
2011
Janet Gonzales – Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies Kate Karstadt – Office of Professional School Advising
David McMahon – Experiential Education/Career Center
David Louis – Honors and Undergraduate Research
Erin Porter – Scholarships & Financial Aid
2010
Sherrice King – General Academic Programs
Mary Teel – Scholarships and Financial Aid
Angela Vasquez – Undergraduate Studies
Marilyn Yeager – Career Center
2009
Mary Kathryn Moss – Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academics
Ruth Schemmer – Career Center
Michael Spies – Office of Admissions and Records
Sarah Wall – Texas A&M University at Galveston
Marilyn Willie – Faculty Senate Office
2008
Kimberly A. Fox – Office for International Outreach
Tiffany Inbody – Division of Research and Graduate Studies
Laura Wimberley – Access Learning Communities
Debbie Hightower – University Libraries
2007
Barbara Lee – Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Academic Services
Debra Perez – Student Learning Center
Karen Price – Office of the Registrar
2006
Jean Layne – Center for Teaching Excellence
Linde Newman – Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
Dale Pracht – Career Center
Karen Weyel Severn – Office of Professional School Advising
Laura N. Welsh – Office of Graduate Studies
2005
Myra Gomez Gonzalez – Office of Honors Programs and Academic Scholarships
Joseph P. Pettibon II – Office of Student Financial Aid
Chloe Rape – Office of Admissions and Records
Diana Sousares – Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
Bill Taylor – International Student Services
2004
Debra LaGrone – Student Financial Aid
Barbara McGuirk – Thesis Office
Nancy Simpson – Center for Teaching Excellence
Jennifer Westling – Office of Admissions and Records
Susan Williamson – International Programs Office
2003
Mary Lenn Dixon – Texas A&M University Press
Brenda Thomas – Office of Graduate Studies
Samantha Wilson – Career Center
2002
Clifton Paul Griffin – Office of Graduate Studies
Barbara Guidry – Medical Sciences Library
Sallye Henderson – General Academic Programs
Nina "Mike" Randermann – Career Center
Monique L. Snowden – Office of Admissions and Records
2001
Violetta Cook – International Programs Office
Linda Shervonne Davis – Computing and Information Services
Adelle Hedleston – Sterling C. Evans Library
2000
Sylvia J. Mendez – Food Safety Inspection Service Project Management
Brenda J. Smith – Office of Admissions and Records
Julia K. Barker – Academy for Advanced Telecommunications and Learning Technologies
Jennifer M. Humphries – The Career Center
Don W. Wood – Office of Institutional Studies and Planning
1999
Kathleen Kenefick – West Campus Library
Donna Lamarche – Center for Academic Enhancement
Mel Lasell – Office of Institutional Studies and Planning
Myra Winters – International Programs for Students
Djuana Young – Office of Honors Programs and Academic Scholarships
1998
Patricia Cammack – Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
Ellen Kasari – Laboratory Animal Resources and Research
Okay Okonkwo – Sterling C. Evans Library
Jeanie Salinas – General Academic Programs
Mary Smith – Computing and Information Services
1997
Ann Frerich – International Programs Office
Janice Johnson Crockett – Office of the Dean of Faculties
Frances Nelson – Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Programs and Academic Services
Salley Stansell – The Career Center
Patricia Steele – Faculty Senate Office