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 above-average 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.
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.
Congratulations to the 2024 - 2025 Employee Excellence Award Recipients
Islander Leadership - Kenny Roberts, Client Technologies Analyst III
"Kenny Roberts has been pivotal to the Autonomy Research Institute's success, contributing to 184 successful field operation days and significantly improving operational performance by designing and implementing a comprehensive digital tracking system. He spearheaded the launch of ARI’s new Operations Center and diligently manages the Institute's IT enterprise. Beyond his operational and technical expertise, Kenny is a dedicated mentor, guiding students and staff. Exemplifying reliability, professionalism, and a solutions-oriented approach, he consistently exceeds expectations, proactively addresses needs, and is an indispensable member of ARI, enabling seamless operations and embodying the core values of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi."
Islander Engagement - Maricela Alexander, Administrative Coordinator I
"Maricela Alexander is an exceptional administrative professional known for her problem-solving skills, compassion, consistent support of faculty, staff, administration, and students. Her daily contributions include facilitating smooth transitions for new colleagues, resolving complex issues, and fostering collaboration throughout the University. Beyond routine tasks, she demonstrates extraordinary initiative, notably spearheading the creation of a university lactation room for new mothers, managing all aspects from proposal to maintenance. Her dedication and willingness to go above and beyond make her an invaluable asset to the university community."
"Nora Gnabasik has significantly strengthened the Islander network and community engagement through innovative initiatives like Alumni Pickleball, the Alumni Basketball Tournament, and Alumni Night in the Career Corner, reconnecting local graduates with the university. Her dedication extends beyond her role as she consistently seeks creative partnerships and solutions to bridge the gap between alumni, the university, and the Coastal Bend. Remarkably balancing her professional responsibilities with full-time studies in the Professional Counseling program, Nora embodies the Islander spirit through her impact, innovation, and unwavering commitment to fostering a thriving university community."