Inspiring stories of dedication to Penn and its mission are the building blocks for accelerating the University’s trajectory from excellence to eminence.

Penn staff members routinely go above and beyond the call of duty, exceeding job expectations and contributing to the University’s success. Penn cherishes such commitment and is honoring exceptional staff members with the Division of Human Resources’ (HR) 13th annual Models of Excellence awards.

Any member of the University is welcome to submit a nomination for an individual or group that has accomplished extraordinary achievements over the previous academic year. Nominees should demonstrate excellence and provide colleagues with positive role models.

The Models of Excellence program consists of the Models of Excellence Award, the Model Supervisor Award, and Commitment to Excellence.

Introduced in 1999, the Models of Excellence Award recognizes notable staff member accomplishments that reflect initiative, leadership, increased efficiency, and a deep commitment to helping others. Models of Excellence are identified for their outstanding contributions to the University’s teaching, research, and service missions.

The Model Supervisor Award acknowledges exceptional managers who demonstrate exemplary behaviors that make them successful leaders, valuable team players, and constructive contributors to Penn’s success.

Nominations for the 2013 Models of Excellence and Model Supervisor awards must be submitted by Thursday, Nov. 8.

The Commitment to Excellence Award recognizes an employee’s outstanding dedication to the University in times of unprecedented external circumstances, such as the collaboration of several Penn departments to review, admit, and integrate Hurricane Katrina-displaced college students into the University community in under two weeks. Commitment to Excellence nominations must be submitted by the vice dean, vice provost, or vice president level or above, and can be submitted as special events occur.

The Models of Excellence program has honored more than 700 staff members over the last 13 years. 

“We want to share the incredible achievements of our staff with the entire campus,” says Jack Heuer, vice president of HR. “We have supervisors like Patricia Rose, whose staff nominated her for the 2012 Model Supervisor Award because of her ‘empowering style of supervision’ and her ability to build ‘a terrific, lively, collaborative, and productive sense of community at work.’ And staff members like Lucy Wolf Tuton, who created an innovative multidisciplinary program that provides health-related services to economically disadvantaged communities.”

For more information about the awards and eligibility, visit the Human Resources website or contact HR directly at 215-898-1012 or email zebley@upenn.edu.