Past Recipients

2023

The ninth annual UConn Spirit Awards ceremony was held on March 21, 2023.

Event Recording

2023 Spirit Awards Winners

The winners and finalists were:

Rising Star Award Winner Quoron Walker, School of Fine Arts
Rising Star Award Finalists Michelle Everard, Office of the Provost; Lyndsey Masterson, Student Activities
Unsung Hero Award Winner Joanna Rivera Davis, First Year Programs & Learning Communities – Academic Achievement Center
Unsung Hero Award Finalists Kathy Erickson, History Department; Brandy Nelson, School of Business Undergraduate Programs
Team Award Winner Graduate School: Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Affairs Team
Team Award Finalists Office of Clinical Placement Coordination (OCPC), Facilities Snow Team Equipment Operators
University Citizen Award Winner Shoshana Armington, Engineering Undergraduate Programs
University Citizen Award Finalists Heather Parker, History Department; Susana Ulloa, Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS)
Inclusive Excellence Award Winner Ada Rivera, academic Achievement Center
Inclusive Excellence Award Finalists Justin Cheney, UConn Police Department
Behind the Scenes Award Winner
Ivette Santiago, Stamford Campus – Operations
Behind the Scenes Award Finalists
Richard Knowlton, Facilities Operations; Roberto Rios, Facilities Operations

2022

The eighth annual UConn Spirit Awards ceremony was held on March 9, 2022.

  • 2022 Spirit Awards

The winners and finalists were:

Rising Star Award Winner Carly Koebel, Political Science
Rising Star Award Finalists Mikala Kane, School of Nursing; Liane Lussier-Smith, Social Work Instruction and Research
Unsung Hero Award Winner Mary Margaret Smith, Animal Science
Unsung Hero Award Finalists Jessica Baker, School of Business, Graduate Programs; Christin Donnelly, Geosciences
Team Award Winner Custodian Employees – all Campuses
Team Award Finalists CLAS Shared Services Facilities Team, The Dodd Center for Human Rights Dedication Event Team, SHaW Administrative Team
University Citizen Award Winner Cody Ryan, 1st Year Programs and Learning Communities
University Citizen Award Finalists Renee Constant, Student health and Wellness; Tracy Rittenhouse, Natural Resources and the Environment
Inclusive Excellence Award Winner Lara Chiaverini, Computer Science and Engineering
Inclusive Excellence Award Finalists Yudelka Nunez-Gonzalez, Financial Aid; Bidya Ranjeet, Center for Academic Programs (CAP)
Behind the Scenes Award Winner
Kathy Koji, School of Pharmacy
Behind the Scenes Award Finalists
Mark Davis, Facilities Mechanical and Plumbing Services; Lorraine St. Clair, Department of Extension, New Haven County

2021

The seventh annual UConn Spirit Awards ceremony was held on March 25, 2021.

  • Rising Star Finalists

The winners and finalists were:

Rising Star Award Winner Edward Junhoa Lim, University Libraries
Rising Star Award Finalists Erin Ciarimboli, Enrichment Programs/CETL; William Davenport, Department of Extension, Litchfield
Unsung Hero Award Winner Hengameh Vosough, Campus Technology Services
Unsung Hero Award Finalists Sirrah Galligan, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Amanda Wilde, ISS First Year Program and Learning Community
Team Award Winner Dean of Students Office
Team Award Finalists CETL: Education Technologies and Learning Initiatives Team; Office of the Registrar; SHaW COVID-19 Morning Huddle; Center for Clean Energy Engineering Support Team Staff
University Citizen Award Winner Kay Gruder, Career Development Center
University Citizen Award Finalists Eva Gorbants, Fine Arts; Sherry Zane, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Inclusive Excellence Award Winner Lisa Famularo, Career Development Center
Inclusive Excellence Award Finalists Dr. Willena Kempson Price, African American Cultural Center; Dr. Chao Song, Student Health and Wellness

2020

The sixth annual UConn Spirit Awards ceremony was held on February 27, 2020.

  • President Tom Katsouleas and Jonathan the Husky pose with 2020 UConn Spirit awards recipients at the Wilbur Cross North Reading Room on Feb. 27, 2020. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

The winners and finalists were:

Rising Star Award Winner Claudia Pina, Mental Health Resource Center-UConn Waterbury
Rising Star Award Finalists Michele Magliulo, Residential Life-UConn Stamford; Jonathan Ramos, Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs
Unsung Hero Award Winner Brian Boecherer, Executive Director, Office of Early College Experience
Unsung Hero Award Finalists Dawn Benjamin, Administrative Specialist, Undergraduate Student Government; Angela Brightly, Associate Campus Director, UConn Waterbury
Team Award Winner Regional Campus Mental Health Resource Center: Jessica Musgrove, Katlyn Griffin, Claudia Pina, Cody Bergeron
Team Award Finalists Central Warehouse; Safety Techniques and Awareness Resource Team
University Citizen Award Winner Haleh Ghaemolsabahi, Director, Campus Technology Services
University Citizen Award Finalists Kimberly Colon, Assistant Director, Office of Community Standards; Jen Person, Director, Payroll
Inclusive Excellence Award Winner Hilarie Jones, Student Health and Wellness
Inclusive Excellence Award Finalists Monique Cooper, Center for Career Development; Professor Linda Halgunseth, Department of Human Development and Family Studies

2019

The fifth annual UConn Spirit Awards ceremony was held on March 28, 2019.

  • Rising Star Award winner Helena DeBald of First Year Programs and Learning Communities speaks at the UConn Spirit Awards ceremony
    Rising Star Award winner Helena DeBald of First Year Programs and Learning Communities speaks at the UConn Spirit Awards ceremony held at the Alumni Center on March 28, 2019. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

The winners and finalists were:

Rising Star Award Winner Helena DeBald, First Year Programs and Learning Communities
Rising Star Award Finalists Sarah Aggarwala, Student Health Services; Emily Zangari, University Communications
Unsung Hero Award Winner Ellyssa Eror, Student Health Services
Unsung Hero Award Finalists Mary Ann Phaneuf, School of Pharmacy; Anonymous
Team Award Winner Veterans Affairs and Military Programs: Alyssa Kelleher, Nikki Eberly, Daniel Kowalchik, Rob Passmore, Jonathan Ramos, Elizabeth Little, Jonathan Bartolotta, Paul Hanlon
Team Award Finalists Center for Career Development, Diversity and Inclusion Committee: Monique Cooper, Amelinda Vazquez, Ana Clara Blesso, Eran Peterson, Nancy Bilmes, Ashley Brownin, Kay Gruder

International Student and Scholar Services: Rae Alexander, Catherine Barachkova, Libby Bush, Jason Escalera, Dana Foster, Arthur Galinat

University Citizen Award Winner Cinnamon Adams, Graduate School
University Citizen Award Finalists Mary Boston, Student Health Services; Pamela Heath-Johnston, Human Resources

2018

The fourth annual UConn Spirit Awards ceremony was held on March 20, 2018.

  • 2018 Spirit Awards Winners
    Winners of the Spirit Awards pose for a photo with Jonathan the Husky at the Wilbur Cross North Reading Room on March 20, 2018. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

The winners and finalists were:

Rising Star Award Winner Bianka Horvath, Off Campus Student Services
Rising Star Award Finalists Bridget Inzirillo, Office of the Provost; Christie Soltys, Honors Program
Unsung Hero Award Winner Stacey Stearns, Extension
Unsung Hero Award Finalists Micki Bellamy, Physics; Brandon Murray, Office of the Provost
Team Award Winner Hartford Campus Staff & Administration
Team Award Finalists Greenhouse Studios Working Group: Tom Scheinfeldt, Clarissa Ceglio, Greg Colati, Brendan Kane and Sara Sikes

University Events and Conference Services: Wendy Baker, Kate Copeland, Amy Erhart, Harley Erickson, Robbin Haboian-Demircan, Anne Hill, Juliet Kapsis, Carolyn Postemski, Lauren Schaller, Cara Workman and Karen Zajac

Outstanding Peer Award Winner Kelly Wihbey, Office of Budget and Planning
Outstanding Peer Award Finalists Bryanna Anderson, Center for Students with Disabilities; Ashlee Stone, Student Health Services

2017

The third annual UConn Spirit Awards ceremony was held on April 25, 2017.

  • 2017 Spirit Awards Winners
    President Susan Herbst and Jonathan the Husky pose with UConn Spirit Awards recipients at the Wilbur Cross South Reading Room on April 25, 2017. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

The winners and finalists were:

2016

The second annual UConn Spirit Awards ceremony was held on March 8, 2016.

 

  • Team Award 2016
    Left to right, Pat Moriarty, Valerie Kiefer, Cindy Walsh, Hilarie Jones, Melanie Kraus, and Virginia Shea (not pictured), of the Student Health Services Sexual Assault Team, received the Team Award at the UConn Spirit Awards on March 8, 2016. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

The winners and finalists were:

Rising Star Award Winner Aneesa Bey, Chemistry Department
Rising Star Award Finalists Emily Merritt, Center for Career Development; Rebecca Blackett, Residential Life
Unsung Hero Award Winner Renee Boggis, Human Resources
Unsung Hero Award Finalists Michael “Mickey” Gorman, Facilities; John Parmelee, Dramatic Arts
Team Award Winner Student Health Services Sexual Assault Team: Pat Moriarty, Hilarie Jones, Melanie Kraus, Valerie Kiefer, Virginia Shea, Cindy Walsh
Team Award Finalists Center for Career Development Team: Amanda Carchedi, Ashley Pedersen, Beth Settje, Bryant Allen, Darlene Reynolds, Emily Merritt, Eran Peterson, Jennifer Grunwald, John Bau, Kay Gruder, Laura Evangelista, Lee Hameroff, Lisa McGuire, Michael Petro, Nancy Bilmes, Pamela Zagami, Paul GagnonExtension Master Gardener Program Team: Leslie Alexander, Julia Cencebaugh-Kloth, Regina Campfield, David Lewis, Jude Hsiang, Sarah Bailey, Gail Reynolds, Deb Prior, Deb Lee, Susan Munger
Outstanding Peer Award Winner Carol Millette, Women’s Center
Outstanding Peer Award Finalists Fe Delos-Santos, Asian and Asian American Studies Institute; Laura Hills, Education Abroad

 

2015

The first UConn Spirit Awards ceremony was held on March 4, 2015.

  • UConn Spirit Awards 2015
    Recipients of the 2015 UConn Spirit awards pose for photo with President Susan Herbst and Jonathan the Husky during an event held at the Student Union Ballroom on March 4, 2015. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

Here are the winners:

Rising Star Award Ashley Hazelton, Office of Community Outreach
Unsung Hero Award Inda Watrous, Department of English
Team Award CHIP Administrative Team: Kelsey Barton-Henry, Josh Hardin, Lynne Hendrickson, Susan Hoge, Beth Krane,Lisa McDevitt, Kathy Moriarty, Melissa Stone, Chris Tarricone, and AnnMarie White
Peer Award Karen DeMeola, Assistant Dean of Students at UConn Law