Excellence Awards 2016
Descriptions and Criteria
Therearefourcategoriesofawards:
ExcellenceinPerformance
ExcellenceinServicetoStudents
ExcellenceinCommunications
GraduateAssistantAwards
TheExcellence inPerformance awardsrecognize exceptional workinprogram effectiveness and
innovation. Theseareevidence---basedawardsthatcandemonstrate thattheprogram orservicehas
contributed tostudentlifeatBostonCollegeinasignificant way.TheServicetoStudentsawards
recognize extraordinary effortandgoodspiritwithinthedivisionofstudentaffairstofurtherourwork
withstudents.TheCommunications awardsrecognize innovative andeffective useofmarketing and
socialmediastrategies tocommunicate withstudentsandotherconstituencies abouttheprograms and
servicesofthedivision. Graduate Assistantawardsacknowledge thehardwork,ingenuity, and
commitmentofourgraduateassistants.Theseawardsaregivenforexcellenceinthecurrent
academicyear.
I.EXCELLENCEINPERFORMANCEAWARDS
Excellence inProgram Effectiveness: Thisawardrecognizes evidence---basedeffortswhichbreaknewground in
addressing student needsand/orcriticalcampus issues.Thisawardhonorsanindividual orgroupofindividuals who
demonstrate effective useofassessment strategies andbestpractice research intheireffortstoimprove student life
atBostonCollege.
Specificcriteria:
Evidence---based
Groundedinresearch
Conditionsimproveasaresultoftheprogram
Breaksnewground
2012Recipient:BystanderInterventionEducation,OfficeofHealthPromotion
2013Recipient:BASICS,OfficeofHealthPromotion
2014Recipient:PathwaysInitiative,OfficeofResidentialLife
Excellence inSupervision: Theexcellence insupervision awardisgivenannually toanoutstanding supervisor within
thedivision ofstudent affairswhoempowers stafforstudents tobetheirbest.Thisindividual isfairandconsistentin
his/heractions, develops individual plansforpersonal formation withstafforstudents, communicates clear
expectationsandholdsstaffandstudentworkersaccountable,andtreatsallcolleagueswithdignityandrespect.
Specific criteria:
Mustbeasupervisor
Showevidence (realexamples) ofoutstanding supervision
Showevidence ofempowering stafforstudents
Holdsstafforstudents accountable
2012Recipient: Madelyn Rivera, University Health Services
2014Recipient: DorrieSiqueiros, Office ofResidential Life
Outstanding Collaboration: Thisaward maybepresented toanindividual, team,ordepartment within thedivision
thatsuccessfully demonstrates collaboration acrossdepartments tobetterserveourstudents, thedivision, orthe
University. Successful nominees willdemonstrate careful planning anduseofresearch andbestpractice methods
topromote student learning. Examples mayinclude initiating anewprogram, planning aninnovative event,or
offering anewservice inconjunction withanother grouporgroups oncampus.
Specific criteria:
Evidence ofcollaboration beyond justsponsorship orinviting otherstojoinorparticipate
Innovative
Collaboration startsattheplanning stage
2013Recipient: Perspectives Living Learning Community, Office ofResidential Life
2014Recipient: Student Organizations Training Curriculum, Student Programs Office
2015Recipient:OfficeofResidentialLifeandtheWomen'sCenter|BystanderEducation
Integrity Award: Thisaward isgiventotheperson whodemonstrates integrity inallaspects ofselfand
professional practice. Thisperson isnotafraidtotakeastandwhenadifficult issuearisesandisrecognized by
manyassomeone whoengenders trust,confidence, andtactinpersonal andprofessional relationships.
Specific criteria:
Actively identifies ethical issues
Assists students andcolleagues inethical decision---making
Appropriately addresses issuesthatarenotconsistent withprofessional ethics
2015Recipient:KatieO'Dair,OfficeoftheVicePresidentforStudentAffairs
Service totheProfession Award: Thisaward recognizes anindividual within thedivision whodemonstrates
significant contributions tothestudent affairsprofession whilemaintaining highquality workwithin thedivision.
Contributions mayinclude service tostate,regional, ornational professional associations; publication ofbest
practices ororiginal research; orpresentation atprofessional conferences.
Specific criteria:
Highquality workbothwithin thedivision andoutside ofdivision
Evidence ofpublications/presentations (material submitted withnomination)
Service inprofessional associations (regional chair,knowledge community, etc.)
Bothbreadth anddepth
II.EXCELLENCE INSERVICE TOSTUDENTS
Excellence inService Award: Thisaward recognizes thecontributions ofastaffmember, grouporofficewho
workstomakeprocedures, services, facilities, programs, and/orthegeneral Boston College learning environment a
welcoming, efficient, andhighquality experience forstudents. Therecipient(s) goesaboveandbeyond toenhance
students’ experiences atBoston College whilethoughtfully balancing educational needsandcustomer service.
Others, especially students, maycomment onthehelpfulness, professionalismandassistance oftheseindividualsor
groupandontheirwillingness tocreate apositive, activeandinclusive learning community.
Specific criteria:
Goaboveandbeyond forawelcoming environment
Innovative
Evidence thatthingshavechanged because ofservice
Thebenefit ofservice isstudents’ learning
2013Recipient: DomDeLeo, Career Services
2014Recipient: PaulChebator, DeanofStudents
2015Recipient:RachelDiBella,Women’sCenter
Living theMission Award: Thisaward isgiven toamember oftheDivision ofStudent Affairs who hasbeen a
leader infacilitating student learning and formation and hasworked toadvance the Jesuit, Catholic values of
Boston College. This award recognizes anemployee who best exemplifies excellence inproviding services or
creating programs thathelpintegrate students’ intellectual, spiritual andsocialrealms.
Specific criteria:
Theperson embodies thespiritandessence ofSt.Ignatius
Integrates allaspects ofthemission
Helpsstudents integrate thevarious aspects oftheirlivesoncampus
Shows impact
2013Recipient: MerZovko, Student Programs Office
2014Recipient: Marianne Carrabba, Office ofResidential Life
2015Recipient: InesMaturanaSendoya,TheaBowmanAHANAandInterculturalCenter
Diversity Award: TheDiversity Award recognizes theefforts ofstaffthatstrivetopromote understandingand
appreciation ofdiversity initsmultitude offorms.Theaward maybepresented toaperson, group,orprogram that
a)helpsbuildanenvironment ofinclusivity andawareness; b)supports theeducation ofissuesofdiversity andsocial
justice; andc)engages members oftheBCcommunity indialogue andconversation around issuesofrace,religion,
gender, identity, socioeconomicstatus, sexualorientation, mental disability, orphysical disability.
Specific criteria:
Committed toaspiritofpluralism
Provides educational and/orprofessional development opportunities tostudents and/orstaff
aboutdiversity, multiculturalism,andsocialjustice
Nurtures anenvironment ofopenness, tolerance, andinclusion
Celebrates theunique qualities within thestudent population andtheDivision ofStudent Affairs
Incorporates diverse perspectives intoprogram planning andimplementation
2015Recipient:KarlBell,OfficeofStudentInvolvement
Award forIntegrated Learning: Thisaward recognizes afaculty member oracademic administrator outside ofthe
division whohaseffectively contributed totheintegration oftheacademic andco---curricularexperiences ofBoston
College students. Examples couldinclude advising anon---academicgroup,accompanyingstudents onaservice---
related orcultural trip,orshowing special support ofco---curricularlearning opportunities forstudents. Thisfaculty
member mayhavealsoengaged inasuccessful partnership withstafffromtheDivision ofStudent Affairs.
Specific criteria:
Evidence ofintegrating student experiences
Collaboration
2013Recipient: DonHafner, ViceProvost forUndergraduateAcademic Affairs
2014Recipient: LauraHake,Faculty, Biology Department
III.EXCELLENCE INCOMMUNICATIONS
Excellence inMarketing andCommunications:Thisaward recognizes theefforts ofastaffmember, teamor
department topromote aparticular student program, eventorcampaign withregards tolevelofcreativity,
strength andconsistency ofmessage, outreach, andstudent engagement.
Specific criteria:
Creative messaging
Coordinated strategy
Adherence toBCcommunicationsstandards
Advances student awareness andinteraction withaparticular program orinitiative
2013Recipients: Jessica Hartley andKellyAliceRobinson, Career Services
Innovative UseofSocialMedia Strategy: Thisaward recognizes astaffmember, teamordepartment thathas
demonstrated athorough understandingofsocialmedia andhasutilized socialmedia marketing toincrease brand
awareness andstudent engagement.
Specific criteria:
Creativity
Evidence ofstudent engagement
Coordinated strategy
IV.Graduate Assistant Awards
Excellence inService Award: Thisaward recognizes thecontributions ofaGraduate Assistant whoworkstomake
procedures, services, facilities, programs, and/orthegeneral Boston College learning environment awelcoming,
efficient, andhighquality experience forstudents. Therecipient goesaboveandbeyond toenhance students’
experiences atBoston College whilethoughtfully balancing educational needsandcustomer service. Others may
comment onthehelpfulness, professionalismandassistance ofthisindividual andonhisorherwillingness to
create apositive, active, andinclusive learning community.
Specific criteria:
Goesaboveandbeyond tocreate awelcoming environment forstudents
Isactively involved intheacademic and/orpersonal development ofstudents
Promotes student development through individual guidance andassistance, alongwith
intentional andeffective programming
Integrates theories andknowledge gained intheclassroom intoeveryday practice
2013Recipients: MollyKocher, Office ofHealth Promotion; EmilyHess,Student Programs Office
2014Recipients: JamesPelletier, Student Affairs Business Service Center; AmyGribaudo, Volunteer andService
Learning Center
2015Recipients: DerekHottell, Office oftheDeanofStudents; SamGordon,OfficeofResidentialLife
Innovation Award: Thisaward recognizes aGraduate Assistant whodemonstrates innovation indeveloping or
enhancing programs and/orservices thatmeetthechanging needsofBoston College’s student population. This
individual hasanabilitytoproblem---solveandbecreative withtheuseofpeople, resources, budgets, and/or
technology. Thisaward celebrates innovation inaction—not onlythecreative idea,butalsotheimpactoftheidea
onpractical application.
Specific criteria:
Putsforthnew,creative initiatives withthoughtful consideration andplanning
Thinks ‘outside ofthebox’anduseshisorherideastobroaden thescopeofprograms and
services intheDivision
Forward---thinkingand willing to thoughtfullychallengetraditionin order to create a progressive
andengaging environment forbothstudents andstaff
2014Recipient: EmilyHalstead, Graduate Student Life
2015Recipient: MeganO’Hara, Women’sCenter