Every month, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga faculty and staff members are asked, “Has a UTC employee gone the extra mile to help you or offered outstanding service to others? Is there someone who continues to smile and have a positive attitude even when the workload is heavy?”
The UTC campus community then is invited to acknowledge this hard work and dedication by nominating individuals for the Chancellor’s Blue Ribbon Award. A committee appointed by Chancellor Steven Angle chooses monthly award winners. Blue Ribbon Award recipients receive a plaque, a monetary prize and a personal congratulations from the chancellor. The winners are typically honored at a semi-annual awards luncheon, but one cannot take place at this time due to the pandemic.
Here are the six honorees from the second half of 2020 who have been recognized for going above-and-beyond in supporting the UTC campus.
July: Mike Andrews, executive video producer, Office of Communications and Marketing
In her Blue Ribbon Award nomination note, College of Engineering and Computer Science Outreach Coordinator Sara Jackson wrote that Mike Andrews “has not hesitated to assist (CECS) with increasing our online presence during the COVID-19 pandemic. He took the time during quarantine to brainstorm and craft videos for us to use to assist with prospective student recruitment, website development and social media. We in CECS are very grateful to him, and we would like to see him recognized for his exemplary accomplishments and attitude.”
August: Yasmine Key, director, University Health Services
Chief Health Affairs Officer and Director of the School of Nursing Chris Smith nominated Yasmine Key, stating that, “Dr. Key has been instrumental in this time of COVID-19. Not only has she kept the health services on campus going, but she helped the campus manage the arrival of the pandemic on our campus. She has worked tirelessly to manage how we need to keep faculty, staff and students safe during these uncertain times. She has literally worked seven days a week since the beginning of March, when this started to be a reality. She is always forward-thinking, bringing solutions to problems we are not sure were on the horizon. She is very deserving of this recognition.” To read more about Yasmine Key, visit the 2020 fall edition of UTC Magazine.
September: Marcus Williams, warehouse and custodial supervisor, Housing and Residence Life
Marcus Williams demonstrated “unparalleled dedication in preparing residence halls for students’ return,” wrote Eva Mako, associate director of facilities for Housing and Residence Life. “Marcus is on the front-line of our daily operation. He oversees the ordering and receiving of inventory, the correlation, dissemination and follow-up of work orders, coordinates the services of outside vendors and ensures quality standards are maintained. In my 20-plus year career as a manager on multi-faceted teams, I’ve never encountered the dedication, persistence and grit that I have seen in Marcus Williams.”
October: Valara Sample, executive director for residential education and campus life, Housing and Residence Life
In nominating her co-worker for the award, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Abeer Mustafa cited the challenges Valara Sample faced during the pandemic. “COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges,” Mustafa wrote. “Val has supported her staff and played an instrumental role in coordinating, communicating and implementing the task in hand. Val coordinates with the contact tracing team, University Health Services, Student Support Services and Dining Services to support residential students. Val demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to her university community as well as to her team.” To read more about Valara Sample, visit the 2020 fall edition of UTC Magazine.
November: Craig Gosnell, assistant director of programs and engagement, Campus Recreation
Craig Gosnell received numerous nominations for Blue Ribbon Award. Among those reaching out on his behalf was Madison Dayton, who said Gosnell “has been positive and uplifting even through these difficult times. He has helped the student body to feel at home and as back to normal as possible. He considers every student employee at the ARC as one of his own family members.” Another UTC student, Nicholas Chauncey, called Gosnell “a role model to those students that worked for him. He has set a strong example for campus staff and management.”
December: Kristen Johnson, contracts specialist, Procurement and Contract Services
In his nomination note, Associate Head of the Department of Performing Arts Stuart Benkert cited the numerous times Kristen Johnson “has jumped in to save us. Recently, we learned that a contract had been overlooked and was due well before we would be able to get to it. None of us really knew what to enter. Kristen tracked it down for us to make sure it got completed. We have many contracts we deal with in performing arts, and I feel confident that we will be able to work through them with Kristen filling the role as an important teammate and collaborator.”
