Credit: Nick Romanenko

Fourteen university staff members – the "Katrina Project Team" – quickly mobilized in the wake of the hurricane last year to aid and counsel New Jersey students after administration officials created an emergency program for state residents who were attending Louisiana universities and had been forced to flee north. The team won a Bridge Award for their efforts.

Ten employees received Excellence in Service Awards and six work teams received Bridge Awards at the President’s Recognition Program Awards Ceremony held October 17 at the Rutgers Student Center. President Richard L. McCormick initiated the annual event three years ago to recognize employees who routinely go beyond their job descriptions and departments that collaborated to execute unique events or improve services.

“On each of our campuses, Rutgers staff members play a vital role in fulfilling the university’s mission of education, research and public service,” McCormick said at the ceremony, which was preceded by a showcase at which Bridge-award nominated teams displayed posters of their interdepartmental efforts. “This year, more than any, it is fitting that we salute this vital role. The dedication and enthusiasm of our employees is essential to the life of the university; the efforts and achievements of our students and faculty are made possible as a result of their tremendous support.”

The award winners ranged from a staff employee deemed the driving force behind Recovery Housing, a program that addresses the social, emotional and intellectual needs of students recovering from addiction, to a team of 38 individuals encompassing 13 units who coordinated the visit of the Dalai Lama, an event that drew more than 36,000 people to Rutgers Stadium September 25, 2005.

Twenty-six teams comprising of 338 employees were nominated for Bridge awards and 109 individuals were recommended for Excellence in Service Awards. (For a list of nominees, click here.) A committee that included a cross-section of staff on all campuses, chaired by Sandra L. Russell, associate vice president for University Human Resources, selected the finalists. This year, individual awardees received cash awards of $150 and Bridge award winners received about $30 per team member.

One group, the Katrina Project Team, decided to donate its monetary award in Rutgers’ name to a Katrina relief organization. “This gift brings our project to a very satisfying close,” said Phyllis Micketti, assistant director of undergraduate admissions in New Brunswick and one of 14 university staff members who quickly mobilized in the wake of the hurricane to aid and counsel New Jersey students after administration officials created an emergency program for state residents who were attending Louisiana universities and had been forced to flee north. The employees paved the way for “Katrina students” to attend Rutgers through abbreviated admissions, financial aid, registration, housing, parking registration, and academic advising processes, and many served as the students’ personal mentors.

For a complete list of award recipients and event photographics, visit the University Human Resources web pages for the Excellence in Service Awards and the Bridge Awards.

Russell, who presented the awards to recipients, said it isn’t too early to nominate next year’s candidates. Excellence in Service and Bridge awards are open to all regularly appointed Type 1 employees in good employment standing within their department who have worked at Rutgers for a minimum of six months as of June 20, 2007, the nomination closing date.

 The 2006 award winners will attend a luncheon at Neilson Dining Hall in November.