Spirits were high last Tuesday at the 25th Models of Excellence award ceremony, which celebrated 52 Penn staff members for their above-and-beyond accomplishments.
Inside the spectacular Harrison Auditorium at the Penn Museum, a memorable photo and video slideshow and a performance from student a cappella group the Penny Loafers kicked off the event, where hundreds of staff and faculty gathered with their family and friends. Attendees cheered with excitement, waving red and blue pom poms, shaking noisemakers, and holding high congratulatory signs to support the day’s honorees.
Interim President J. Larry Jameson, Provost John L. Jackson Jr., Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli, and Senior Vice President for Human Resources Jack Heuer presented the awards, which included individual and team honorees for Model Supervisor, Pillars of Excellence, and Models of Excellence.
“I’m honored, delighted, and excited to celebrate with all of you, Penn’s exceptional staff,” said Jameson. “You make Penn move. You enable our excellence across every dimension of what we do.”
In his remarks, Jameson invoked Penn’s strategic framework In Principle and Practice, noting how the University’s “exceptional and diverse people” serve as “the foundation of all we do,” propelling the institution forward. “With Models of Excellence we set aside time to recognize Penn people who have done something extraordinary,” Jameson said.
This year’s Model Supervisor award, which recognizes contributions of leaders who support, develop, and motivate Penn’s diverse and multitalented staff, went to Erin Brown of the Division of Human Resources, Sharon Fleshman of Career Services, Jane F. Holahan of the Weingarten Center, and Adam Roth-Saks of the School of Social Policy & Practice.
The Pillars of Excellence award, highlighting the achievements of Penn’s skilled and devoted support staff, who, with care and creativity maintain a safe and functional environment for the University community, went to Bill Dickson of Facilities and Real Estate Services, Mary Marcopul of the School of Arts & Sciences, Leslie Vallhonrat of Penn Libraries, and Janell Wiseley of Development and Alumni Relations.
The Models of Excellence award, which, since 1999, has gone to staff members whose accomplishments reflect initiative, leadership, increased efficiency, and a deep commitment to service, went to four individuals and four teams, with the individual honorees including Kayla Clark of the Perelman School of Medicine, Abby Kalkstein for her former role with the School of Social Policy & Practice, Lauren Rudick of Student Intervention Services, and Teri Scott of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Teams included the DEEPenn STEM organizing team, the Let’s Talk team, the Penn Cooks team, and the Penn Violence Prevention Consent Circles team.
Since the Models of Excellence inception, Penn has awarded more than 1,800 honorees. In all categories, award recipients each receive a symbolic trophy and $500. Heuer, who helped create and evolve the program over the years, said: “Penn scholars, faculty, and students achieve remarkable things because equally remarkable staff make the choice to support Penn’s mission on a daily basis.”
With it being Heuer’s final Models of Excellence ceremony, as he’ll retire this summer after more than 40 years at Penn, Jameson made it a point to thank the longtime leader for his service, spurring many audience members to rise to their feet. “If I’m even tempted to list his many achievements,” Jameson said, smiling, “we’d be here for the rest of the day and into tomorrow.” Heuer returned to the stage, thanking the interim president. They and the other presenters went on to share stories of the honorees’ accomplishments and contributions to Penn.
The hourlong ceremony concluded with the singing of The Red and Blue led by the Penny Loafers. The fun continued with a reception with food and drinks at the Museum’s Chinese Rotunda.
