We believe in recognizing and celebrating the remarkable efforts of our staff who embody our vision of making the university better every day.
Nominations are being accepted through Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.
The 2nd Annual FOA Excellence Awards – Innovation, Collaboration and Moved Mountains – are designed to honor three individuals within UC Davis Finance, Operations and Administration who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to our mission and values.
- Eligibility: All FOA staff members with a UC Davis email address.
- Recognition: All winners will be recognized at a ceremony in the spring.
Nominate a Deserving Colleague
Your nominations matter! Help us identify, recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our FOA colleagues. Complete the form to nominate a colleague for these prestigious awards. Let’s come together to appreciate those who make UC Davis a better place every day.
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- To nominate someone for the FOA Innovation Award, you will be asked the following questions:
- Describe how the nominee introduced a unique or creative solution to a challenge. What makes this innovation stand out from typical approaches?
- Explain how the innovation addressed a specific problem or challenge. What problem did it solve?
- What was the impact of this innovation? Provide examples of the positive outcomes it created, whether within a team, department, or across the university.
- How has the innovation adapted to changing circumstances, or how can it be applied to future challenges?
- Did the nominee collaborate with others to develop or implement this innovation? If so, describe their contribution to collaborative efforts.
- To nominate someone for the FOA Collaboration Award, you will be asked the following questions:
- Provide examples of how the nominee demonstrated teamwork and promoted inclusivity within their team or across departments.
- Describe how the nominee effectively communicated with team members and stakeholders, promoting transparency and collaboration.
- Give examples of how the nominee contributed to solving challenges through collaborative efforts.
- Explain how the nominee’s collaborative efforts spanned different functions or departments, creating a broader impact.
- To nominate someone for the FOA Moved Mountains Award, you will be asked the following questions:
- Describe the scale of the nominee's efforts and the significant impact they had on the university
- How did the nominee demonstrate leadership and inspire others to work through challenges?
- Provide examples of how the nominee used creative and resourceful approaches to overcome obstacles.
- What were the measurable outcomes of the nominee’s efforts? Provide specific results or data to support the success of their initiatives.
- How have the nominee’s efforts been sustained, or how do you expect the impact to continue over time?
FOA Innovation Award
This award recognizes an individual who has significantly advanced how UC Davis works through innovative solutions, practices or ideas. The recipient demonstrates a forward-thinking approach in their work, embodying creativity, resourcefulness and the ability to solve problems in unique ways.
Selection Criteria:
- The uniqueness and creativity of the innovation introduced by the nominee, showcasing a novel approach to challenges faced.
- How effectively the innovation addresses a specific problem or challenge within the project, department, or organization.
- The potential or realized positive impact of the innovation on operations, processes, or departmental goals.
- The flexibility of the innovation in adapting to changing circumstances or future developments.
- Contributions to collaborative innovation efforts, either within the nominee's team or in partnership with other departments or organizations.
Examples:
- Demonstrated a novel approach to problem-solving, driving meaningful innovation.
- Implemented ideas or solutions that resulted in measurable improvements to university operations or processes.
- Actively contributed to advancing sustainability and efficiency in the use of university resources.
- Successfully applied cutting-edge research to enhance how campus functions.
FOA Collaboration Award
This award honors an individual who exemplifies exceptional cooperation, partnership and teamwork. It recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond to work collaboratively, promote inclusivity and achieve shared goals, reflecting our commitment to building a strong and supportive community.
Selection Criteria:
- Evidence of effective collaboration and teamwork within the nominee's team or across departments, while promoting inclusivity and diversity within projects.
- Clear, open, and transparent communication with team members and stakeholders, ensuring everyone is informed and engaged.
- The nominee’s contributions to overcoming challenges through collaborative efforts, leveraging team strengths to find solutions.
- Recognition of collaborative efforts that crossed departmental or functional boundaries, resulting in broader campus impact.
Examples:
- Demonstrated outstanding teamwork and collaboration within or across departments.
- Brought diverse perspectives together to achieve common goals, promoting a culture of inclusion.
- Fostered a supportive, inclusive environment that enhanced the work of the team.
- Successfully led project that integrated ideas, talents and resources from multiple areas, produing positive outcomes for the campus as a whole.
FOA Moved Mountains Award
This award celebrates extraordinary achievements that have had a significant and positive impact on the university. It recognizes individuals who have 'moved mountains' – overcoming substantial challenges, intractable problems or long-standing obstacles with determination, resilience and integrity.
Selection Criteria:
- The degree to which the nominee's efforts have made a significant, wide-reaching impact across the university or in their area of influence.
- Demonstrated leadership abilities, vision, and the capacity to inspire others to collaborate and overcome challenges.
- Innovative and resourceful approaches used by the nominee to address challenges, showing adaptability in achieving their goals.
- The tangible, measurable outcomes achieved through the nominee's initiatives, reflecting their effectiveness and success.
- Consideration of the long-term sustainability and enduring impact of the nominee's efforts, ensuring continued benefits over time.
Examples:
- Overcame considerable challenges or barriers while maintaining a high level of integrity and professionalism.
- Led initiatives that resulted in a substantial, positive impact on the university, through large-scale project completion, process improvement or community building.
- Demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness in solving complex problems, achieving measurable outcomes that align with the university’s mission and values.
- Ensured that the changes implemented have long-term sustainability, providing ongoing benefits to the campus community.
2023 Award Recipients
FOA Innovation Award
Amber Sharpe
FOA Business Partners
FOA Collaboration Award
Aaron Knapek
Design and Construction Management
FOA Moved Mountains Award
Jennifer Thompson
Supply Chain Management
Read about how the award recipients went above and beyond in their work.