The U.S.C. employee award is named for Larry R. Atkins, Facilities Services’ building coordinator for the Stafford Campus. Sadly, we lost Larry in July 2011; he had worked for Mary Washington since 1997. He was a hospice volunteer and a tutor for Olde Forge Junction, an avid hunter, fisherman and loved to relic hunt. Mr. Atkins was an all around good person, who enjoyed helping people. Larry was one of the first employees to receive the S.A.C. “We Couldn’t Do it Without You Award,” which has since been renamed in his honor.
The University Staff Council recognizes UMW employees who are the unsung heroes of our offices. New or seasoned employees who work tirelessly, often with little formal recognition, can be honored by their teammates and fellow co-workers.
Eligibility:
- Any administrative faculty, wage, and/or classified employee may be nominated. Nominees must be employed by UMW at the time the Atkins Award is presented.
- A staff member (whether administrative faculty, wage, or classified) is eligible for one Atkins award in a five-year period. For example, a staff member who wins an Atkins Award in 2020, in any classification, would be eligible again for an Atkins Award, in any classification, in 2025. See the Human Resources website for the list of previous winners.
Nomination Criteria: Those who are nominated typically:
- Lend a helping hand to their teammates;
- Go above and beyond in each and every task while wearing a smile on their face; and
- Set a positive example for the rest of our UMW employees.
Selection Process:
Final selection will be made by the University Staff Council. Three UMW employees will be selected (one wage employee, one classified employee, and one A/P Faculty member). The three award winners will be announced at a University Annual Awards Ceremony.
Nomination Process:
To nominate a colleague use the on-line nomination form. It is strongly suggested that nominations be at least 150 words and not exceed 500 words. The minimum word count ensures that the narratives describing the accomplishments of nominees are detailed enough to give a fair representation of their qualifications for the Atkins Award. The deadline for submitting nominations is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Questions should be directed to Sarah Appleby (sappleby@umw.edu).