Nine University of Delaware employees have been honored with Staff Excellence Awards for the spring semester.

“On behalf of the whole University, I want to thank these outstanding staff members for their steadfast commitment and hard work,” President Dennis Assanis said. “Time and again, our staff go above and beyond to advance the University’s mission and values — working collaboratively with colleagues, faculty and students — to help UD reach new standards of excellence in research, education and service. We are so proud of their dedication and all their invaluable contributions to the University of Delaware.”

The recipients were chosen from nominations submitted by supervisors and co-workers. Those who were not selected for the spring award will be considered again for future awards, along with new nominees. Faculty are recognized by the Faculty Senate with the annual Faculty Excellence Awards.

“UD is proud to be considered one of the best employers in the state, and we are excited to recognize some of the many staff members who make UD such an excellent place for everyone to learn and work,” said Melissa Bard, Vice President of Human Resources.

The Staff Excellence Award recipients are:

Distinguished Staff Excellence Individual Award

Matt Semones, Facilities Coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences Facilities

Semones helps support the facilities needs of CAS, which has more than 20 departments and units in more than 15 buildings across campus. His colleagues cited his efforts to coordinate the move of the Dance minor program into Hartshorn Hall, the move of the Department of Africana Studies into Memorial Hall and the move of the recently renamed Institute for Community Mental Health-Clinic out of Belmont Hall and into STAR Tower, which helps UD provide much-needed mental health services to the public.

Distinguished Staff Excellence Team Award

Morris Library DELCAT Implementation Team:

• Sebastian Derry, Library Department Head II

• Derek Dolby, Associate Librarian

• Stephen Erickson, Electronic Resources Manager

• Megan Gaffney, Library Department Head II

• Jennifer MacDonald, Library Department Head II

• Mark Grabowski, Director, Computing Ops

Working over an 18-month migration period, the team moved the DELCAT online catalog to a new platform, Alma. The project involved training programs, working with other units, creating standards, training colleagues, adjusting workflows and countless other tasks. This project is benefitting the entire UD community of scholars.

Innovation Excellence Award

Alice Moore, Protection of Minors Program Coordinator, Office of Equity and Inclusion

Moore built the University’s Protection of Minors program from the ground up to protect the safety and wellbeing of youth who participate in UD programs on and off campus. The program ensures that adults working with minors have background checks and are properly trained. UD is now considered one of the nation’s top institutions in this field.

Community Advocate Excellence Award

Albert “Larry” Armstrong, Webb Farm Manager, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Armstrong’s management of Webb Farm ensures that it is a unique education and research asset for students and faculty. Colleagues cited Armstrong’s long hours at the farm, often during evenings and weekends, for events and day-to-day management. The farm is a model of sustainable livestock practices and environmentally friendly management strategies, and Armstrong’s work supports a variety of agricultural research areas.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to nominate individuals and teams for the fall Staff Excellence Awards. Learn more and submit a nomination online.

The Hen High Five program is another way to recognize the work of colleagues. Those who are sent a Hen High Five are entered to win a $100 gift card in a monthly raffle.