The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Employee Excellence Awards are sponsored by Staff Council. Employees are awarded in three categories which hold equal weight – Leadership, Engagement, and Impact. The category in which the nominee is honored is defined below and will be selected by committee vote. The winner in each category will be recognized at the annual Islander Awards ceremony and receive $1,000.
Islander Leadership
This Staff Council award recognizes a University staff member whose actions, deeds, service, and work ethic embodies the University’s mission and whose contributions makes the University, and the Coastal Bend, a better place.
Islander Engagement
This Staff Council award recognizes a University staff member who celebrates, promotes and embraces community and belonging, stresses collaboration and engagement, and is committed to creating an Island for everyone.
Islander Impact
This Staff Council award recognizes a University staff member who impacts the success of the University through the development, or expansion, of creative programs, services, and initiatives that contribute to the University’s mission and/or the betterment of the Coastal Bend.
Faculty, staff and students are eligible to nominate, but an employee may not self-nominate.
The nominee must have a performance review ranking of Exceeds Expectations within the most-recent review cycle.
Nominee must be an Exceeds Expectation performer as documented on an official performance evaluation within the most-recent evaluation cycle.
Nominee must have been employed on or before September 1, 2024. (Prior work as a student employee or a temporary worker will not be considered employment for this requirement.)
Nominee must be a regular budgeted employee working 20 hours a week or more.
Employees at Director level and higher are not eligible.
Previous winners are not eligible to be nominated unless it has been 5 years since receiving the award.
Conflicts of Interest
Current judges, and committee members, should abstain from submitting nominations.
Any committee member nominated should recuse themselves from the award process.
The 2026 Employee Excellence Award nominations period has closed.
Interdivisional Collaboration Award for Excellence
The Interdivisional Collaboration Award for Excellence is sponsored by the President's Cabinet and designed to recognize outstanding team achievement across units. Team members should be committed to a common purpose, share specific performance goals, and hold each other mutually accountable. The recipient of this award is selected by the President's Cabinet. The selected team will receive a lunch hosted by the President and will be recognized at the annual Islander Awards ceremony.
Criteria
Recipients will have:
significantly improved a work process or system;
increased the efficiency of an operation or department/unit;
consistently sought to improve the quality of work assigned;
demonstrated efforts to expand work responsibilities and/or
made positive improvements in student services or enhanced student satisfaction.
Winners will be selected by the President’s Cabinet based on submission details. The project should have been completed during the previous calendar year but can have been initiated in a prior year.
Benefits-eligible faculty and staff.
Teams must consist of 3 or more individuals from different Colleges, Departments, Units, and/or Divisions.
The team members must have a performance review ranking of Exceeds Expectations within the most-recent review cycle.
Faculty, staff and students are eligible to nominate; self-nominations are welcome.
The 2026 Interdivisional Collaboration Award for Excellence nomination period has closed.
Congratulations to the 2025 - 2026 Employee Excellence Award Recipients
Islander Leadership - James Dalton, Senior Network Technician I
James Dalton is an outstanding member of our university community, and his contributions include guiding the new Arts and Media Building and Chaparral Building remodel, ensuring these spaces support learning and innovation. He designed and installed advanced fiber optic and telecommunications systems, providing reliable connectivity for classrooms, research labs, and campus operations. Collaborating with the City of Corpus Christi, James strengthened regional partnerships and improved downtown fiber networks. His attention to detail, professionalism, and collaborative spirit consistently enhance campus infrastructure, making James a trusted leader and indispensable member of the Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi community.
Islander Engagement - Mario De Leon, Research Technician I
Mario De Leon is a Research Technician for the Center for Coastal Studies, whose leadership and innovation have made a lasting impact on the University and Coastal Bend community. IE-4 led the development of the BioWaves Innovation Camp, providing hands-on STEM opportunities for students of all ages, and drives the Center’s education and outreach programming year-round. His efforts at events such as Earth Day–Bay Day and Women in Industry meetings have expanded the Center’s visibility and deepened community connections. IE-4’s compassion, technical expertise, and dedication make him an indispensable colleague and mentor, exemplifying excellence in science education and inclusion.
Islander Impact - Margaret MacDonald, Business Administrator I
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi has benefited from Margaret MacDonald’s dedicated service and leadership for the past 25 years within the Institutional Advancement Division. Throughout her tenure, Margaret has been a trusted mentor, collaborative leader, and valued resource for colleagues and students alike, both within her office and across the university community.
Known for consistently going above and beyond her responsibilities, Margaret exemplifies operational excellence, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to supporting the university’s mission. Her longstanding record of volunteering for university events further reflects her deep dedication and pride in serving TAMU-CC.