Staff Celebrated for Impact, Innovation at U-M and Beyond

eleven individuals recipients of the 2019 Staff Impact Awards

Founding an international professional organization. Doubling student voter turnout. Creating a model of workplace flexibility. Teaching thousands of middle school students how to live healthy lives. These are a few of the remarkable accomplishments of the 2019 University of Michigan Staff Impact Award recipients.

Eleven individuals and three teams were presented with Staff Impact Awards on Monday. Among the recipients, one individual and one team also were recognized by President Mark Schlissel for innovative contributions to the university.

Laurita Thomas, associate vice president for human resources, opened the presentation ceremony at the Michigan League Ballroom and presented certificates along with members of the award selection committee, and videos provided by nominators.

President Mark Schlissel presented President’s Staff Awards of Distinction to James Zajkowski of Information Technology Services, and Project Healthy Schools at MHealthy. The two special awards specifically honor recipients whose accomplishments displayed innovation.

 Individual Staff Impact Award recipients:

  • Patrick Armatis - UM-Dearborn, Mardigian Library.
  • Christine Asidao - Counseling and Psychological Services.
  • Mary Ceccanese - Stephen M. Ross School of Business Office of Tax Policy Research.
  • Cathy DeMars - UMH Psych Nursing Mental Health.
  • Yuri Fukazawa - Center for Japanese Studies, International Institute.
  • Gerald Hoff - Patient Business Services.
  • Blaire Moody Rideout - Ross School of Business Office of Undergraduate Programs.
  • Lilly Fink Shapiro - School for Environment and Sustainability.
  • Will Sherry - Spectrum Center.
  • Tim Wood - Staff Human Resources.
  • James Zajkowski - Information Technology Services

Team Staff Impact Award recipients:

  • The Big Ten Voting Challenge Team - Ginsberg Center.
  • HR Communication Management Team - University Human Resources.
  • Project Healthy Schools - MHealthy.

Read more about the award presentation in the University Record

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