Recognition

Learning & Talent Development Learning & Talent Development

Our team provides recognition opportunities for our UNCW employees. We celebrate employees at our annual NC State Service Award banquet. We recognize outstanding accomplishments by our staff during the Staff Awards for Excellence reception. We also host recognition socials throughout the year to give our employees time to relax and socialize. Each year, we hold an ice cream social for the official State of NC Employee Appreciation Day. Employees can recognize their colleagues through the Soaring Seahawks program.

State of North Carolina Employee Appreciation Day

Join us on Wednesday, May 8th for the Official State of North Carolina Employee Appreciation Day Ice Cream Social!

Campus employees can join the Chancellor and Leadership for a scoop of ice cream or sherbet. A limited number of t-shirts will be given out on a first come first serve basis.

Main Campus:
When: Wednesday, May 8th from 1:30pm-3:30pm or 6pm-7:30pm
Where: Campus Commons (Rain location- Warwick Center)

CMS:
When: Wednesday, May 8th from 1:30pm-3:30pm
Where: Main lobby

DC Virgo:
When: Wednesday, May 8th from 10:00am-1:00pm
Where: Teacher’s Lounge

Staff Award for Excellence

The Staff Award for Excellence program is designed to acknowledge and express appreciation for outstanding accomplishments that do not fall entirely within the scope of normal duties but are in the nature of a major contribution reflecting credit on the person and State service.

The meritorious service or accomplishment is so singularly outstanding that special recognition is justified. Employees are nominated for the award by other state employees including their supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates.

The Award for Excellence Categories include:

Customer Service – Provided exceptional service that left the customer fully satisfied with their experience. Exceeded expectations to meet the needs of the customer. Added value to the customer experience.

Efficiency and Innovation – Improved the efficiency of state government services. Established new and/or improved methods, practices, plans or designs resulting in innovation, savings and/or efficiencies. This is an ideal area to nominate an employee who has thought of and implemented an employee suggestion that has proven successful.

Human Relations – Made outstanding contributions toward enhancing the quality and morale of the workplace or creating a better public image of state government (such as positive personal interaction with other employees; public awareness; working on relations internally within an agency; or collaboration between different agencies).

Outstanding State Government Service – Exhibited unselfish devotion to duty far and above the normal requirements and contributed significantly to the advancement of state service to the citizens of North Carolina.

Public Service – Made outstanding contributions by participating in or implementing community and public service projects (such as volunteering with various non-profit organizations).

Safety and Heroism – Demonstrated outstanding judgment or courage in an emergency, voluntarily risking his/her life or exhibited meritorious action to prevent injury, loss of life or prevented damage to or loss of property.

Spirit of North Carolina – Exemplified the state motto “To be, rather than to seem.” Mentored others in the pursuit of excellence. Served as an ambassador for the State of North Carolina. This special award is reserved for exceptional circumstances and for accomplishments and achievements of the highest caliber.

Congrats to our 2024 UNCW Staff Award for Excellence Winner:

Andrea Ingle, Associate Director of Student Involvement, Campus Life

Congratulations to our 2024 Staff Award for Excellence Nominees:

Customer Service

Xavier Belanger – IT Security Infrastructure Operation Services
Beth Casper – Mathmatics and Statistics
Shea Huse – Biology and Marine Biology
GROUP: Ashlea Pinkham & Elaine Mongno – School of Health & Applied Human Sciences

Efficiency & Innovation

Nicole Carabelli – Graduate Programs Office, Cameron School of Business
Zerek Olson – IT Security Infrastructure Operation Services
Kari Schmitz – Disability Resource Center
GROUP: Jack Guglielmo & Jesse Sholar – Facilities Administration

Human Relations

Danielle Eastup – Dean's Office, College of Health & Human Services
Amy Carroll – Academic Affairs & Student Success, Watson College of Education
Connor Simpson – English Department

Outstanding State Government Service

Megan Kauzlaric – Academic Affairs, Provost
Theofilos Lorentzos – Facilities Administration
Andrew Mauk – Institutional Research and Planning

Public Service

Kathleen Huber – School of Social Work

Spirit of North Carolina

Andrea Ingle – Campus Life

Staff Service Awards

The success of State government in providing services to meet the needs of North Carolina and its citizens is dependent on the efforts of State employees like you! To express its appreciation to valued employees, the State sponsors the annual Staff Service Awards to recognize SHRA and EHRA (non-faculty/non-SAAO) employees' total state service in increments of five years through retirement.

Excellence in Service, North Carolina’s employee service awards program, celebrates length-of-service milestones of employee service to state government. The program is a partnership between the Office of State Human Resources; Correction Enterprises in the Department of Public Safety; and the Museum of History in the Department of Cultural Resources.

The Service Awards program:

Offers products made primarily in North Carolina or, at a minimum, made in the USA;
Celebrates North Carolina’s heritage, culture, symbols and craftsmen;
Offers unique products that, for the most part, cannot be purchased; and
Creates efficiencies by operating the program within state government.

The Excellence in Service recognizes employees when they achieve career status and again at five years, ten years, and thereafter in five-year increments. The service awards, themselves, are unique items crafted especially for the Employee Service Awards program. Most of the items are made by inmates in the Department of Public Safety through Correction Enterprises, while others are handmade by North Carolina artisans.

When Will I Be Recognized?

When you are eligible for a Staff Service Award, you will receive instructions to select the award of your choice, as well as an invitation to the annual Staff Service Awards Luncheon. Service Award recipients are determined within the fiscal calendar (July 1 to June 30 of each year). For example, if you were hired in September of 2015, you will be invited to the 2021 Staff Service Awards Luncheon.

Soaring Seahawk

We see examples of the exceptional service and dedication to excellence demonstrated by our employees every day. UNCW employees consistently reflect our university's values of diversity and globalization, ethics and integrity, and excellence and innovation. Soaring Seahawk is a way to recognize those employees who have taken their UNCW service to the next level.

What Is a Soaring Seahawk?

A "Soaring Seahawk" is a personalized message of appreciation shared with a UNCW employee (or group of employees) who has gone above and beyond in their support of the university. Soaring Seahawk recipients receive an email with a copy of the nomination message, a special thank you from the HR team, and a customized certificate recognizing their contributions. Nominators have the option of letting the recipient know who submitted the Soaring Seahawk or to remain anonymous.

Who Can Receive a Soaring Seahawk?

Have you received outstanding service from a UNCW employee and want to send a special thank you? Do you know someone who went above and beyond in their job to help you or benefit campus? UNCW's Soaring Seahawk program is a means for recognizing exceptional service by any UNCW employee. Everyone can participate!

How Do I Nominate Someone For a Soaring Seahawk?

Complete the Soaring Seahawk Nomination Form - be sure to follow our guidelines for submitting a strong nomination. Nominations can be submitted by individuals or groups. The Soaring Seahawk committee meets once a month to review submissions and award Soaring Seahawks to nominees.

DIY Recognition

Do It Yourself Recognition

Below, we've highlighted some of our favorite recognition programs that YOU can launch for your own department, team or unit. These DIY recognition ideas are free, easy, and a great way to start having a positive impact on the culture in which you work.

E-Praise Cards

A quick and easy way to give someone a pat on the back, e-praise cards are a great option for peer-to-peer recognition. One of our favorite providers of free e-praise cards is Baudville.

Check out their selection

Microsoft Teams Badges

Praise can be given virtually through Microsoft Teams with badges such as Creative, Problem solver, and Team player.

Find out how

Shout Outs

Shout Outs are where team members can post or write encouraging words, motivational quotes, and positive messages about one another!

Shout Outs can be given virtually! For example, through a departmental team within Microsoft Teams, on a cork board or white board that you hold up during your next Zoom meeting, or as a screen share during your next virtual staff meeting if you would like to create a PowerPoint slide or other form of visual to supplement your Shout Out!

Thank You Cards

If you have some spare thank you cards, you can send one to a colleague through snail mail.