Excellence Awards 2024 – Ohio State Buckeyes
The 2024 Excellence Awards to celebrate our people and our successes will take place on Friday, May 10, doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the program begins at 2 p.m. These awards recognize exemplary staff members in the below categories from across the Athletics Department, Business Advancement and SASSO.
Look back at previous winners: 2023 Excellence Award Winners | 2022 Excellence Award Winners | 2021 Excellence Award Winners | 2020 Excellence Award Winners
Eligibility Guidelines:
- Any staff member from the Athletics Department, Business Advancement or SASSO can nominate another staff member.
- To win an award, the staff member must be a full-time employee with one year service by the date of the event, Friday, May 10, 2024 (with the exception of the Rookie of the Year Award).
- To win an award, the employee’s overall rating on their most recent performance evaluation must be “meets expectations” or above.
- A staff member cannot win the same award in a 4-year period (example, if a person won the integrity award in 2020, the next time they are eligible to win the award is 2025)
- A staff member may be nominated for and win more than one award in a single year.
Integrity Award
The person, who through individual accountability, promotes and progresses the standards and values of Ohio State.
FINALISTS
Doug Calland
Abbie Hollon
Ericka Hoon
Leann Parker
Erin Ralston
Education Award
The person who demonstrates an appreciation and application for the lifelong learning through quality academic, competitive leadership and/or social experiences.
FINALISTS
Matt Bartlebaugh
Alejandra Cangrejo
Kaitlin Davis
Diah Gassett
Jessee Hankins
Leann Parker
Alex Sommer
People Award
The person who focuses on providing an excellent experience to all including student-athletes, students, staff and guests.
FINALISTS
Tyler Deam
Derek Gross
Kim Heaton
Keith Jones
Mo Lavallee
Holly Reed
Respect Award
The person who promotes collaboration and inclusiveness while treating all people with respect.
FINALISTS
Adam Campbell
Makena Lynch
Mike (Smitty) Smith
Alex Sommer
Quinn Tempel
Innovation Award
The person who utilizes innovative ideas to create and deliver impact.
FINALISTS
Kevin Griffin
Kim Heaton
Logan Hittle
Kelly Mulhern
Alex Penrose
Anna Vonderhaar
Community Award
The person who is committed to paying forward by supporting people and/or causes across campus or in the community.
FINALISTS
Doug Calland
Kim Dally-Badgeley
Donta Ingram
Jarred Martin
Excellence Award
The person who is committed to representing our values and consistently serves as an exemplar for their peers.
FINALISTS
Matt Fox
Abbie Hollon
Heather Mason
Quinn Tempel
Eugene D. Smith Award
The person who puts the Buckeye Student-Athlete Experience first and foremost, exceeding job duties as assigned.FINALISTS
Quadrian Banks
Fred Barends
Kate Reymann
Alex Sommer
Rookie of the Year Award
The new hire who demonstrates university values, department values and extraordinary service in their field.
To qualify, this person was hired after May 11, 2023.
FINALISTS
Nick Artinian
Madison Essinger
Matt Jones
Megan Kusner
Braxton White
Latoya Wright
Team Award
The team/unit that went above and beyond throughout the past year to help the department, campus, or community.
Higher Purpose Award
