Berks Staff Advisory Council Recognizes Staff
Penn State Berks Staff Advisory Council (Berks SAC) through the Staff Recognition Committee has advocated for opportunities for staff to receive recognition for their achievements and dedication to the Penn State Berks campus community.
2025 Staff Recognition Committee Members
Co-Chairs:
- Autumn Fritz
- Lisa Zackowski
Members:
- Louise Frantz
- Melissa Millar
- Heather Wise
2025 Nomination Timeline
- March 3: Nomination form goes live
- April 11: Nomination deadline
- May 5 through 9 (Finals Week): Nominees notified
- Winners announced during the Penn State Berks Employee Recognition Event
2024-25 Berks SAC Staff Recognition Opportunities
Staff Collaborator Award
Beginning in 2024, the Staff Collaborator Award will honor a staff member who demonstrates the Penn State Value of community at the College. One of the many definitions of collaboration, and one the founding committee agreed to use is: the act of producing or making something together. By actively collaborating with other campus partners we hope that this individual inspires staff, faculty, and students to work together with mission and purpose. While they may be the person taking the lead, it might also be the person behind the scenes to ensure that things are moving smoothly.
Student Advocate Staff Award
For years, the First-Year Experience Committee has recognized staff, faculty, and students instrumental in the first-year student experience. The Staff Advisory Council Recognition Committee sought to provide the opportunity to recognize staff that have been instrumental in the total experience of our students. This support could occur at any point in the student experience between acceptance through graduation. The founding committee envisioned the recipient of this award as an individual that not only supports students in their academic pursuits, but challenges them to become the best versions of themselves as a reflection of their time at Penn State Berks.
Gaige Award for Staff Innovation
The Staff Advisory Council has advocated to fund a new award for 2025. This award will honor a staff member that has been creative in the ways that they have utilized their role to educate students or their peers; supported colleagues in their roles as educators; supported students in their academic pursuits; or individuals that have made innovations that directly impact their ability to perform their areas of responsibility as it relates to education in our campus community.
Previous Winners
We are grateful for the staff that have laid a foundation of leadership, community, and dedication to the Penn State Berks community.
Pictured (left to right): Neil LaGreca, Penn State Berks Staff Advisory Council chair; Michael Stella, academic adviser and Student Advocate Staff Award recipient; Alexa Hodge, coordinator of Student Support Services and Staff Collaborator Award recipient; Radha Pyati, Penn State Berks chancellor.
2024 Award Winners
- Staff Collaborator Award: Alexa Hodge
- Student Advocate Staff Award: Michael Stella