Each year nominations are solicited for staff nominees for multiple awards.
We encourage the UNO community to nominate colleagues who are deserving of recognition. Nominations will be solicited during the spring semester and presented at the annual Academic Advising Council/Staff Advisory Council/Faculty Senate banquet.
Awards Presented by SAC
Staff Advisory Council Recognition Award
Awards Presented by Human Resources
Other Awards
Staff Advisory Council Award
Who can be nominated: Any Managerial/Professional, Office/Service, Administrator/Director, or faculty (excluding current SAC members).
Description: This person has demonstrated exemplary support to UNO staff members.
To be eligible an employee must:
- Be under the Administrative jurisdiction of the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Be a University of Nebraska staff person from UNL, UNK, UNMC, or UNCA, whose workload consists of more than 50% conducted on the UNO campus
- Have successfully completed the new employee probationary period.
This award will consist of a $500 monetary gift. The winners will be announced at the annual Faculty Senate/Staff Advisory Council/Academic Advising Council banquet in the spring.
See the list of previous Staff Advisory Council Award winners
Unsung Hero Award
Who can be nominated: UNO Office/Service staff
Description: The purpose of the award is to recognize a staff member who makes a significant contribution to the campus, but has not received the recognition that they deserve. Oftentimes, staff never seek recognition for themselves in the form of awards, formal leadership positions, or public accolades, but these professionals would do anything for their department and the UNO community; they are our everyday heroes.
To be eligible an employee must meet one of the following:
- Goes above and beyond by showing exceptional initiative, perseverance, accountability, or commitment in meeting or exceeding constituents' needs
- Identified, developed, and implemented a flexible, proactive resolution to meet a need or solve a problem, thereby advancing collaboration and University productivity
- Created a work environment that promoted extraordinary teamwork and resulted in superior work performance
This award will consist of a $500 monetary gift. The winners will be announced at the annual Faculty Senate/Staff Advisory Council/Academic Advising Council banquet in the spring.
See the list of previous Unsung Hero Award winners
Above & Beyond Award
Who can be nominated: UNO Managerial/Professional staff
Description: This award honors outstanding achievements in the workplace, exceptional contributions toward efficiency and effectiveness of operations, special efforts in promoting workforce excellence, or outstanding service to the University community and constituents.
To be eligible an employee must:
- Sets a high standard of integrity by leading through example, maintaining a high personal standard and promoting a team environment
- Goes above and beyond by showing exceptional initiative, perseverance, accountability or commitment in meeting or exceeding constituents' needs
- Has made and continues to make a significant, positive impact on the University by supporting knowledge sharing and efforts towards building relationships within the UNO community and the community at large
This award will consist of a $500 monetary gift. The winners will be announced at the annual Faculty Senate/Staff Advisory Council/Academic Advising Council banquet in the spring.
To see the list of previous Above and Beyond Award winners
Employee of the Month Award
To be eligible for the Employee of the Month award, an employee must:
- Be an Office/Service or Managerial Professional employee
- Employed at UNO for one year or longer
- Be in good standing
Recipients will receive $200 from the Chancellor and $150 from SAC added to their paycheck (minus taxes), a certificate, two tickets to a UNO sporting event, an Employee of the Month cup, and a special parking space for the month.
The criteria for this award are:
- Performed Job Above and Beyond Expectations
- Interpersonal Skill/Communication
- Knowledge of Job
- Adaptability
Employee of the Month award recipients are selected by a committee consisting of employees from across the UNO campus, in consultation with Human Resources.
An Employee of the Month Award recipient qualifies to be selected as Employee of the Year. The Employee of the Year is selected by the Reward and Recognition Committee.
You can nominate someone for Employee of the Month by logging into "People Are Everything," UNO's employee rewards and recognition program.
Employee of the Year
The Employee of the Year is selected by the Reward and Recognition committee from the twelve Employees of the Month in the previous calendar year (January - December). The announcement and award are made at the annual Faculty Senate/Staff Advisory Council/Academic Advising Council banquet in the spring.
Spirit of Service Award
A UNO Spirit of Service Award recognizes outstanding Office/Service individuals who provide services that strengthen the community and improves the lives of others.
Qualifications required:
- Office/Service (hourly paid) staff member who has worked at UNO for at least 5 years
- Record of exemplary performance of assigned job duties
- Demonstrated service to UNO by expressing university values, such as:
- Furthering his/her own education and working toward advancement at UNO
- Helping students
- Demonstrated involvement at UNO as shown, for example, by
- Working on University committees
- Attending and/or participating in non-mandatory campus events
- Being an effective ambassador for UNO
The award will consist of a $1,000 monetary gift.
The winner will be recognized at the Annual Faculty Senate/Staff Advisory Council/Academic Advisory Council Award banquet in the spring.
Employee Kudos Award
The President and the Board of Regents have established the Kudos Awards to recognize the
accomplishments of outstanding employees from across the four University of Nebraska campuses.
These awards are particularly intended to spotlight employees that deserve special recognition for
going above and beyond the call of duty. The Kudos Awards are presented at meetings of the Board of Regents.
Guidelines for University of Nebraska Board of Regents Employee Kudos Awards
You can nominate someone for Kudos by logging into "People Are Everything," UNO's employee rewards and recognition program.
Academic Advisor of the Year
The Academic Advisor of the Year Award recognizes professional academic advisors for their exceptional service to students, their colleagues and/or the university. Candidates will be evaluated on their contribution and service, advocacy and collaboration, and initiative and attitude. The recipient of this annual award will receive a plaque and a $500 award in recognition of their accomplishments. Nominees must be employed as professional/managerial staff at UNO for at least one year with primary responsibility dedicated to the academic advising of undergraduate students.
More information and the Academic Advisor of the Year nomination form