Agency Star

The employees nominated typically have been recognized within the agency because of their contributions to the overall mission, objectives, and values of the agency. Because there is such great variation from agency to agency in employee recognition programs, we refer to them generically as “Stars.” For instance, an agency may select an “Employee of the Year,” as well as employees that best represent each of their agency values.

Career Achievement

The employee nominated has a record of consistent achievement over time that has significantly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of Commonwealth operations. For instance you may have an employee who has demonstrated personal achievement and is frequently called upon for advice because of his/her expertise and experience.

Community Service and Volunteerism

The nominated employee volunteers his/her own time in non-profit community activities or serves as the “extra pair of hands” in agency activities. For instance, you may have an employee who helps build a house for Habitat for Humanity or who coordinates your Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign at your agency.

Customer Service

The employee nominated consistently provides a level of service to solve the customer's problem; communicates effectively with customers about services, policies and procedures; and treats customers with dignity and respect. For instance, you may have an employee who has received a letter of commendation from the public about customer service, or you may have already identified a specific employee who has rendered outstanding customer service throughout the year.

Innovation

The employee nominated produces results such as increased productivity, efficiencies, or cost savings through creativity and bright ideas that are implemented within the agency or state government.

Teamwork

The group of employees consistently exhibits the qualities that make teamwork essential to an agency’s success, including coordination of efforts to produce quality service or innovative results. As an example, an appropriate nomination would be a team that achieved substantial savings through re-engineering processes within an agency.

Workplace Health, Wellness and Safety

The nominated employee leads the way in promoting a safe and healthy work environment, suggests workplace improvements, and promotes and supports the importance of a safe and healthy work environment. For instance, you may have an employee who consistently suggests workplace improvements to reduce the risk to other employees or someone who has done particularly well in identifying ways to reduce workers compensation claims in your agency.

Agency: 

Lauren Allyene

Career Achievement:

David Taylor

Community Service and Volunteerism:

Karina Kline-Gabel

Customer Service:

Finance Office

Robbie Campbell

Jill Dean

Olivia Fulk

Christine Jones

Cindy Mathews

Kristi McDonnell

Danelle Ross

Barbara Shepherd

Randy Shiflet II

Sherry Willis 

Innovation:
Glenn Wayland

Teamwork:

Valarie Ghant 

Brent Lewis

Ritter Clevenger

Urs von Rotz

Angela Ritchie

Jonathan Stewart

Chervon Moore

DeAndre Powell

Gary Shears

Mike Derrow

Anna Campbell

Jared Combs

Sam Hottinger

John Khamphavong

Victor McManaway

Kirk Morris 

Agency Star: 

Residence Life

Laura Miller-Blazewicz

Hugh Brown 

Holmes Browne 

Michael Busch 

Sam Butler 

Kathleen Campbell 

Stephanie Carr

Jennifer Dodson 

Chris Ehrhart 

Emily Higham 

Jason Jones

Alicia Lamb

Mariea McNeill 

Kevin Meaney 

Dee Nilsen 

Liz Odermatt

Dawn Ohanessian 

Tripp Purks 

Karen Sampson 

Courtney Samuleu 

Brenda Smith 

Kelsey Snyder

Sam Squyars 

Jon Strine 

Garrett Suhr 

Justin Tarbell 

Jordan Todd 

Stephanie Williams 

Career Achievement: 

Glenn Hastedt 

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Lisa Porter 

Customer Service: 

Whitney Sajko

Sheila Smith 

Innovation: 

Becky Davis 

Teamwork: 

Office of Financial Aid

Shari Arehart 

Brad Barnett 

Claire Bergan 

Anne Callahan 

Jessica Cortes 

Steven Cox

Brandon Crenshaw 

Andrea Dyjak 

Rick Gardner 

Judy Hensley 

Jessica Hopkins 

Brice Hostetler 

Ashley James 

Brooklyn Kier 

Christi Knight 

Colleen McAvoy 

Donna Marie McMillian 

Susan Moyers 

Adrianna Penn 

John Michael Schott

Klaudia Sheffer 

Timley Simmons 

Shana Smith 

Amber Weaver-Shifflett

Workplace Safety and Health: 

Olivia Hale

Jon Leonard 

Agency Star: 

Andy Guertler 

Kristina Blyer 

Career Achievement: 

Marilou Johnson 

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Covid PPE Response Team

Carlson Jenkins

Kevin Hegg

Eric Stauffer 

Amy Russel Yun 

Dave Wang 

Kathleen Conery 

Laura Atkins 

Laura Lambert 

Rebecca Field 

Jordan Brink 

Jamie Calcagno-Roach 

Gover Saunders

Dan Easley 

Art Pekun

Kirsten Mlodynia 

Laura Taalman 

Adrienne Hooker 

Customer Service: 

Admissions Office 

Freshman/Transfer Recruitment 

Visitation Team 

Telephone Reception/Correspondence Team 

Application Processing Team 

Admissions 

Innovation: 

University Recreation 

Teamwork: 

Libraries 

Center for Faculty Innovation 

Office of Disability Services

Information Technology 

Workplace Safety and Health:

Housekeeping

Frankie Lucas 

Carolyn Armentrout

Chrissy Estep 

Cynthia Harris

Diana Taylor 

Heather Baker 

Kay Lam 

Kim Collier 

Debbie Morris 

Vickie Raynes

Yolanda Morris 

Melissa Gaylor 

Russell Gambino 

Tiffany Mayhew 

Holley Carter 

Bryan Falls 

Steven Brubaker 

Terry Lindsey

Agency Star: 

RJ Ohgran

Career Achievement: 

David Onestak

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Jennifer Taylor 

Customer Service:

Print Services Team

Heather Wilharm

Lisa Rhodes

Connie Fulk

Sherry Brooks

Laurie Brinkley

Innovation: 

Williams Yates

Teamwork:

Green Dot Campaign

Lorie Miller 

Holly Bailey

Destiny Savage

Elizabeth Chenevey 

Sarah Blackstone

Jamie Williams

Jessica Weed

Tiffany Brutus 

David Chew 

Jennifer Principe 

Megan Driver

Misty Newman

Jacqueline Hieber

Arianna Sessoms 

Jordan McCann

Paige Hawkins 

Angela Ritchie

Ann Simmons 

Workplace Safety & Health

Matthew Lovesky 

Agency Star: 

Debbie Pine

Career Achievement: 

Sharon Gasser 

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Carlos Aleman 

Customer Service: 

Kimberly McGivern 

Innovation: 

Nick Swayne 

Teamwork: 

Human Resources Benefits Team 

Julie Byers

Tiffany French

Gina Holloway

Raven King

Kristi Moon

Tara Roe

Meghan Schaeffer

Workplace Safety and Health: 

University Health Center 

Kristina Blyer

Deborah Darrell

Halea Fansler-Rexrode

Betsy Gentry

Dr. Andrew Guertler

Brandon Hereford

Morgan Keplinger

Kristin Kirwan

Katy MacDonald

Barbara Mahaffey

Jordan McCann

Lisa Mongold

Angela Ritchie

Becky Schaeffer

Arianna Sessoms

Julie Shiflet

Katelyn Shiflet

Ann Simmons

Dr. Lee Ward

Anna Wyse

Agency Star: 

Dawn Knight

Career Achievement:

Joe Urgo  

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Delo Blough 

Customer Service: 

Jill Staley Wade 

Innovation: 

Joan Fahrney 

Teamwork: 

East Campus Power Plant 

Steven MacRae 

Kenny Stickley

Thomas Burkholder

Aaron Carper

Cody Warlitner

Deland Morris

Alfred Miller

Randal Alger

Mark Hess

Steve Rains

Glen Smith

Brian Moshier

Reginald Lawson

Homer Whetzel

Dennis Hart

Workplace Safety and Health:

Dr. Mary Thompson

Agency Star: 

Frank Lucas Jr.

Career Achievement:

Rich Harris 

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Pete DeSmit

Customer Service: 

Julie Byers

Innovation: 

Jon Jarvis

Teamwork: 

JMU Transfer Team 

Adam Anderson

Regina Admas

Jennifer Jackson

Kate McDaniel

Shannon Mercer

Laika Tamney

Workplace Safety and Health:

Seth Arnold 

Agency Star: 

Karen Gerard

Career Achievement:

Joan Houff

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Sgt. Rodney McCarter

Customer Service: 

Darlene Quackenbush

Innovation: 

Bill Hartman 

Teamwork: 

Kevin Carnago 

Workplace Safety and Health:

Marcella Mullenax

Agency Star: 

Debbie Pine 

Career Achievement:

Nina Stenby-Hurst 

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Gerri Rigney 

Customer Service: 

Laura Brinkley 

Innovation: 

Alvin Chao 

Teamwork: 

Kara Kiblinger

Kelly Miller-Martin

Elizabeth Thompson

Workplace Safety and Health:

Ronald Phillips 

Environmental Stewardship:

Holmes Browne

Career Achievement:

Judy Anderson

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Tracy Hakala

Amy Sirocky-Meck

Customer Service: 

Diana Little 

Teamwork: 

Carrier Library Cataloging Team 

Judy Anderson

Mark Purington

Debbie Ryman

Cindi Sandridge

Darlene Newman

Joan Bowlen (Honorable Mention)

Glenn Huffman (Honorable Mention))

Workplace Safety and Health:

Brett Sinclair 

Agency Star: 

Robert Reid

Career Achievement:

--- 

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Charles Blake 

Customer Service: 

Wanda Layman 

Innovation: 

Anna Lynn Bell 

Alvin Chao 

Susan Reid 

Teamwork: 

Leslie Beam

Courtney Hidges

Sheila Hopkins 

Wesley Elyard 

Workplace Safety and Health:

Leslie Bellavance

Agency Star: 

Chris Gatesman 

Michael Walsh

Career Achievement:

Jackie Ciccone 

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Anne Stewart

Customer Service: 

Julie Love 

Innovation: 

Rick Orebaugh 

Teamwork: 

Media Resources Technology Team 

Vince Drumheller

Doug Gimbert

Jeff Roadcap

Olen Siron

James West

Jackie Woolf

Agency Star: 

Dr. Newell Wright 

Career Achievement:

Fred Hilton 

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Pete DeSmit

Customer Service: 

Betty Reedy 

Innovation: 

Interprofessional Services for Learning Assessment
Dr. Tim Schutle 

Teamwork: 

The Science and Mathematics Learning Center Coordinators and Tutors 

Workplace Safety and Health:

Dennis Hart

Agency Star: 

Jennifer McCabe

Career Achievement:

David Taylor

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Don Hobbs
Bill Baker

Frank Viscomi
Albert Buracker
Ronnie Rhodes

Sidney Monroe
Daniel King
Gregg Chevalier
Ken Fox
Jeff Smallwood
John Ventura
Frankie Lucas

Customer Service: 

Diane Puffenbarger

Innovation: 

Rinn Siegrist

Teamwork: 

Jane Beach
Tyra Berger
Cathy Goldsborough
Diane Nash

Workplace Safety and Health:

Heather Armstrong

Agency Star: 

----

Career Achievement:

Shirley Cobb

Community Service and Volunteerism: 

Suzanne Vance

Customer Service: 

Phyllis Funkhouser

Innovation: 

---

Teamwork: 

Summer Orientation Registration Working Group

Violet Allain

Anna Lynn Bell 

Jill Card

Steve Grande

Linda Halpern

Rene Harrell

Sherry Hood

Lisa Kiracofe

Catherine Mahoney

Joe Manning

Trisha McCoy

Karyn Sproles

Lee Ward

Michele White

Nominations may be submitted anytime throughout the year. The lengthy nomination period provides nominators with the opportunity to submit nominations after performance evaluations are completed each fall, when employee accomplishments are still top of mind.

View the nomination guidelines and procedures.

Recipients are selected as the result of a review by the Purple Star Awards Committee, which consists of employees and leaders from across the university.