Back again for the 18th year is the Division of Human Resources’ (HR) Models of Excellence Program, recognizing Penn staff members who strive—far beyond their expected duties—to boost the University’s successes.

“Models of Excellence gives University-wide recognition to staff members who make Penn’s innovative research, education, and public service possible,” says Jack Heuer, vice president for HR. “Every year, I enjoy watching the Penn community come together in Irvine Auditorium to celebrate our staff and their contributions to the University’s mission.”

This year’s Models of Excellence Award winners were nominated by their colleagues in the fall of 2016, and highlight the teams behind the new Pennovation Center and Thrive at Penn.

The Pennovation Center, which celebrated its grand opening this past October, is a physical hub at Pennovation Works created to provide an environment that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship for Penn faculty and staff inventors and researchers, as well as other leading thinkers and doers from outside of the University.

Thrive at Penn, or TAP, has evolved as an online program, available through Canvas, that assists all incoming Penn students with their college experience, providing a variety of resources—such as videos, links, and quizzes—with information on making healthy decisions for success.

“Both project teams capture the vision and spirit of the Penn Compact,” says work-life specialist Karen Kille, who is one of the Models of Excellence program organizers. “The selection committee chose them because they—individually and as a team—go above and beyond their jobs. And they have not only worked together, but across different units, to put together these projects.”

The Model Supervisor Award, which was introduced in 2007, goes to a Penn supervisor who demonstrates exemplary behaviors and serves as an outstanding role model. This year, Penn recognizes Tina Skov Cowan for transforming the Advancement Office at the Penn Libraries with ambitious ideas, clear vision, and resilience; and Lilian Wu, for her inspirational influence on students, faculty, and staff that has allowed the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science to enjoy a transformative phase that has strengthened team bonds, enlightened its students, and laid the groundwork for continued success in the years to come.

The Pillars of Excellence Award, established in 2014, recognizes the strong foundation and important support of Penn’s weekly paid staff members. Often acting behind-the-scenes, this year’s pillar is Katie Carlin Birch of Penn Business Services, for her customer service mentality through collaboration, dedication, and innovative thinking, and continual commitment to excellence.

Honorable mentions for Models of Excellence include Sonya Gwak of Penn Engineering, the Amazon@Penn team, and the Facilities and Real Estate Services’ New College House team. The Pillars of Excellence honorable mention is Maya Smith of Business Services for her sound decision-making, outstanding customer service, and superior organizational skills as the “face of PennCard.”

Previous Models of Excellence award winners, as well as Penn leaders, serve on an annually rotating selection committee, which reviews all the nominations and chooses the year’s recipients. All award winners receive $500 and a symbolic award. Honorable mentions receive an award too, as well as $250.

Everyone in the Penn community is invited to attend a ceremony and reception recognizing this year’s honorees on Tuesday, March 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium, 3401 Spruce St. RSVP at www.hr.upenn.edu/moe2017. A special event for past honorees takes place beforehand, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

El McClelland, a training and development consultant in HR Learning & Education and Models of Excellence project coordinator, says the event is expected, as always, to be a fun time.

“Penn’s Glee Club opens the event, we play a video that features many of the honorees, we give out pom-poms for friends and family to cheer on their honorees, and President Amy Gutmann and other leaders of the University are up on the stage,” she says. “Dr. Gutmann is always our biggest cheerleader and we appreciate her participation each year.”