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Employee Recognition

The hard work and dedication of employees are at the core of the F&S’ goal to support the university’s education, research, and outreach missions. Employee recognition is an important way of rewarding loyalty and recognizing our staff for its service and engagement on a monthly and annual basis.

F&S employees–and anyone on campus–are encouraged to nominate deserving co-workers for F&S awards and extend thanks and appreciation to others through the recognition programs.

Pats on the Back

Want to recognize an F&S employee for a job well done? Shout out a star team member by sending a thank you to fscustomerrelations@illinois.edu. Pats on the Back are distributed to staff weekly. Submissions may be edited for style and length.

Below are just a few exemplary stories of how F&S employees rose to the occasion.

F&S, UIPD Help Save a Life

F&S Help a “Matter of Life and Death”

IGB ‘Catastrophic Flooding’ Addressed Quickly

Oh, Deer!

Ensuring Building Systems in Extreme Cold

Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Awards (CSEA)

CSEA winner from 2024, Donna McClure, is featured in this video.

The Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award (CSEA) is designed to recognize the importance of the outstanding work of all University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign staff members who perform a wide range of critical functions for our university. Staff provide critical administrative support, support our research laboratories and education programs, serve our students, and offer important outreach programs throughout the state and beyond.

F&S team members regularly win this award, dating back to the 1980s.

Each winner of the CSEA award is honored at a reception hosted by the Chancellor, receive a $1,500 (after taxes) and a commemorative award. In recent years, they have been featured virtually in either a podcast or video through the U. of I. and spotlighted by the News Bureau.

F&S Winners

Steve Bainbridge, Electrician Foreman, 2020
Stephen Baker, Mill Worker, 2003
James Black, Refrigeration Mechanic, 1987
Kevin Booky, Parking Services Technician, 2010
Elmer Brazelton, Building Service Foreman, 1985
Paul Bunting, Public Functions Supervisor, 1999
Theodore Burgin, Electrician, 2007
Timothy Clifton, Pipefitter, 2016
Kelly Edwards, Office Support Specialist, 2016
Randy Emerson, Building Service Worker, 1998
Brad Frantz, Abbott Power Plant, 2024
Paul Gulliford, Grounds Worker, 1999
Todd Hawkins, Ironworkers Foreperson, 2023
Casey Hicks, Abbott Power Plant, 2018
Kenneth Hill, Electrician, 2013
Arlan Hinrichs, Electrician, 2005
John Humer, Building Service Worker, 2016
Paul Jensen, Building Service Worker, 2014
John Kammin, Building Service Foreman, 2002
Tony Kite, Building Service Worker, 2020
Keith Kuehl, Glass Blower, 1985
Pamela Long, Building Service Foreman, 2003
Steven Loveless, Miller Worker Foreman, 2000
Kenny Martin, Building Service Worker, 2005
John Mathes, Building Service Worker, 1998
Donna McClure, Architect, 2024
Frank McCurry, Carpenter, 2012
Ebony Murray, Transportation, 2023
Leo Ochs, Plumber, 1995
Susan Orban, Electrician, 1991
Tracy Osby, Recycling Coordinator, 2012
Lawrence Owens, Locksmith, 1999
Richard Pankau, Refrigeration Mechanic, 1996
Dusty Paris, Building Service Worker, 2009
Dennis Phillips, Laborer Electrician, 2018
Doug Rex, Building Service Worker 2014
Kent Reifsteck, Utilities & Energy Services, 1995 (CAPE Award)
Russ Reynolds, Abbott Power Plant, 2019
Douglas Robertson, Building Service Worker, 2015
Kenneth Snell, Building Service Worker, 2002
Tishia Sutton, Building Service Worker, 2013
Tim Warmouth, Building Service Worker, 1993
Brad Ward, Mill Worker, 2021
Gary Watson, Lead Abbott Operating Engineer, 2008
Darrell Weakly, Electrician Foreman, 2009
Phyllis Williams, Building Service Worker, 2008

Service Awards

The organization also recognizes employees who have reached a university employment milestone at its annual Service Awards Banquet. There, the employee of the year is also honored.

Employee of the Month/Team of the Month

F&S employs many hard-working, dedicated and often extraordinary people who demonstrate exemplary service. Some employees distinguish themselves by consistently going above and beyond while making an improvement in a process, enhancing their output so that both their team and the campus benefit, or even by performing a Good Samaritan or humanitarian act while on the job.

The F&S “Employee of the Month Award” and “Team of the Month Award” (EOM/TOM) are given monthly to employees and teams who have demonstrated one or more of the guiding principles that are essential to our organization, our university and our community.

An Employee of the Year is selected annually from among the two categories of monthly winners. The EOM/TOM committee meets monthly.