University Celebrates Employees at Annual Staff Appreciation Banquet

Chieko Hara

The U of A recognized hundreds of staff members for a variety of achievements and milestones Tuesday, Oct. 10, during the 2023 Employee Awards Banquet at the Fayetteville Town Center. The U of A showcases the success of staff each year during the banquet, which coincides with Staff Appreciation Week. 

Chancellor Charles Robinson welcomed attendees, thanked staff members and recognized the hard work of the many employees honored as part of the event. 

Chief People Officer Michelle Hargis Wolfe served as emcee and addressed staff while working alongside Robinson and Staff Senate Chair Roy Cordell to present Staff Senate Awards and Service Awards.

"Without you all, this university wouldn't be the place it is today. You make the U of A's success possible," she said. "This recognition is only a small symbol of our gratitude."

Staff senators work to ensure the U of A is an employer of choice by actively promoting staff development and recognition through honors such as Staff Senate Scholarships, Employee of the Quarter Awards, Employee of the Year Awards and Team Awards.

Seventeen employees were recognized as Employee of the Quarter from each quarter in 2023. The following staff members were named Employees of the Year:

• AnReckez Daniels, assistant director | Multicultural Center
• Amber Hutchinson, senior grant specialist | Office of Sponsored Programs
• Hasnaini Wood, administrative support supervisor | Information Systems
• Ashley Mitchell, serials cataloging supervisor | Mullins Library
• Jonathan Silva, parking control officer | Transit and Parking

The Outstanding Team Award was presented to the Academic Support and Outreach Programs' Student Advocate Team. Academic Support and Outreach Programs is instrumental in driving student success through increasing graduation rates and closing opportunity gaps. The team provides success interventions, major exploration and academic outreach based on faculty and staff referrals. They also proactively reach out to students to help them achieve academic milestones. Members of the team include: 

• Ana Ayala Barker, First-Year Seminar instructor
• Danielle Dunn, director of Operations and Academic Outreach
• Kathryn Lammers, academic counselor 
• Erich Washausen, academic counselor 

The celebration continued with the recognition of 94 staff members who recently earned a degree from the U of A, as well as staff members who received scholarships from the Staff Senate. 

To conclude the ceremony, employees were recognized for years-of-service milestones, starting at five years. The following longest-tenured employees received special recognition for 45 or greater years of service: 

• Gary Crain, 45 
• Rhonda Fires, 45 
• Reggie Houser, 45
• Randy Luper, 45
• Randall Ramey, 45
• David Savage, 45
• Mayva Villines, 45
• Freddy Wages, 50

"Staff are vital to advancing the success of our students, faculty, administrators and other staff members by serving as mentors, as problem-solvers, as examples of excellence and dedication in service to others," Wolfe said. "Thank you for your time and contributions that help make the university an R1 research institution and a great place to work."

The full banquet program is available online and includes the names of all the staff members who were honored, as well as a short tribute to each of the staff members who have achieved 20 or more years of service.