President’s Achievement Award

Each year, NAU’s President honors exceptional classified staff and service professionals whose work and dedication go above and beyond university expectations.

This year's award winners

Each spring, the President’s Achievement Award recognizes staff members for exceptional contributions to NAU’s mission and community. Awardees receive $2,000 and presidential recognition. Winners are announced in April.

2025

  • Jamie Baxter
  • Laura Bohland
  • Wendy Bruun
  • Melanie Colavito
  • Salvador Lopez
  • Mailani Magana
  • Elyce Morris
  • Rachael Shapiro
  • AJ Swartz
  • James Volturo
  • Debbie Wildermuth
  • Tina Zecher

What we look for

Nominations should reflect a nominee’s:

  • Strong interpersonal relationships collaboration to create a sense of true community in the workplace
  • Consistently exceptional performance well beyond job expectations
  • Active support of and loyalty to NAU’s mission, values, and goals

Eligibility

To be eligible, a nominee must:

  • Hold a regular full- or part-time position
  • Be in good standing for at least three years
  • Have three years of performance reviews on file

Previous winners may be nominated again after five years. Past nominees who were not selected may be re-nominated.

Nomination process

1. Submit a nomination

Any employee may nominate a colleague. The nominator must complete the official nomination form and explain how the nominee meets the criteria. They must also provide contact info for two references, one from the nominee’s department and one from another, who will be asked to submit a brief survey. Only one nomination form per nominee will be accepted.

2. Reviewed by leadership

Deans, directors, or department heads review all submissions from their respective areas.

3. Reviewed by screening committee

The screening committee includes representatives from:

  • The President’s Office
  • Human Resources
  • Staff Advisory Council
  • Winner from previous year

The committee reviews nominations and recommends finalists to the president.

4. Final decision

The president reviews the committee’s recommendations and selects the final award recipients.

Previous winners

2024

  • Todd Cly
  • Lauren Copeland-Glenn
  • John Gartin
  • Megan Gavin
  • Lizbeth Jimenez
  • Robin Long
  • Anthony Thompson
  • Heidi Toth
  • Jessy Zukosky

2023

  • Nicole Christian
  • Katherine Look
  • Suzanna Martinez
  • McKenzie McLoughlin
  • Tommy Newsom III
  • Jaime Smith

2022

  • José R. Díaz Aquino
  • Carly Banks
  • Dawn Birdsell
  • Marcelle Coder
  • Rebecca Malone-Little Owl
  • Jacob Matthews
  • Maria Saurer

2021

  • Kerry Bennett
  • Carol Bolden
  • Hilda Chairez
  • Brad Miner
  • Kegan Remington
  • Sandi Smith
  • Stephanie Smith
  • Boshi Wang
  • Holly Wheeler
  • Arianne Yago

2020

  • Cindy Chilcoat
  • Paula Logie
  • Sharon Lovich
  • Beverly Rodriguez
  • Lori Rubino-Hare
  • Gregg Schneider
  • Cynthia Summers