University News

April 10, 2026 | Mike Enright '88 (CLAS), University Communications

Employees Honored At 2026 UConn Spirit Awards Ceremony

Every year, the ceremony recognizes the efforts of employees, especially staff, in building community and promoting civility at the University

Nine people posing for a photo, holding an award

Jeannie Slayton, Ana Colon-Wallace, Fernando Rodriquez-Barbert, Arthur Galinot, Catherine Barachkova, Nadine Boudissa, Annie Casarella, Lulu Dong, Dana Foster, Neena Kapoor, Benjamin Kohanski, Leslie Lawrence, Eddie Pavliscsak, Huong Pham, and Hailey Winschel receives the Team Award from President Radenka Maric during the Spirit Awards ceremony at the Alumni Center on April 9, 2026. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo) on April 9, 2026. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

Honorees in the 12th annual UConn Spirit Awards, which celebrate exceptional employees at UConn, were announced at a ceremony for the University community on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the UConn Alumni Center.

Every year, the ceremony recognizes the efforts of employees, especially staff, in building community and promoting civility at the University. The Spirit Awards program was originally the result of a survey conducted by the Something’s Happening Committee, which found a significant correlation between supportive interactions among colleagues and productivity on the job.

A total of approximately 160 eligible nominations were received this year for the Spirit Awards. For the second year, a special citation was an optional add-on to a nomination across any category. Nominators could choose to add an optional special citation to their nomination, if their nominee met the parameters of the overall award and did so through the lens of the special citation.

“The success of our students and the success of our students really depends on all our employees,” said UConn President Radenka Maric at the event. “The work that our employees do is demanding and hard. Every employee plays an important role. We prepare our students not only for careers, but to be thoughtful, empathetic, and humble citizens. We call them Huskies forever.”

Their ceremony was also live-streamed and an archive version can be viewed here.

This year’s winners and finalists are:

Rising Star Award

A woman in a red jacket hugging a man and presenting him an award
Matthew Marshall, receives the Rising Star award from President Radenka Maric during the Spirit Awards ceremony at the Alumni Center on April 9, 2026. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

Winner: Matthew Marshall, With University Citizen Citation, Benton Museum of Art

Finalist: Paige Breton, With University Citizen Citation, Student Union

Finalist: Josh Mendelsohn, With University Citizen Citation, Student Union

Unsung Hero Award

A woman in a red jacket hugging a woman and presenting him an award
Sara Dahlen, receives the Unsung Hero Award from President Radenka Maric during the Spirit Awards ceremony at the Alumni Center on April 9, 2026. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

Winner: Sara Dahlen, With University Citizen Citation, Institute for Student Success (ISS) First Year Programs and Learning Communities

A woman in a red jacket hugging a woman and presenting him an award
Nancy White receives the Unsung Hero Award from President Radenka Maric during the Spirit Awards ceremony at the Alumni Center on April 9, 2026. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

Winner: Nancy White, With University Citizen Citation & Inclusive Excellence Citation, Marketing

Finalist: Jaime Chase, With University Citizen Citation & Inclusive Excellence Citation, Nursing

Finalist: Kelly Gilbert, With University Citizen Citation & Inclusive Excellence Citation, Undergraduate Advising

Finalist: Alexis Lohrey, With University Citizen Citation, Provost Academic Affairs

Finalist: Laura Tropp, With University Citizen Citation, UConn Stamford

Team Award

Nine people posing for a photo, holding an award
Jeannie Slayton, Ana Colon-Wallace, Fernando Rodriquez-Barbert, Arthur Galinot, Catherine Barachkova, Nadine Boudissa, Annie Casarella, Lulu Dong, Dana Foster, Neena Kapoor, Benjamin Kohanski, Leslie Lawrence, Eddie Pavliscsak, Huong Pham, and Hailey Winschel receives the Team Award from President Radenka Maric during the Spirit Awards ceremony at the Alumni Center on April 9, 2026. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

Winner: Center For International Students & Scholars (CISS), With Inclusive Excellence Citation: Catherine Barachkova, Nadine Boudissa, Annie Casarella, Ana Colon-Wallace, Lulu Dong, Dana Foster, Arthur Galinat, Nenna Kapoor, Benjamin Kohanski, Leslie Lawrence, Eddie Pavliscsak, Huong Pham, Fernando Rodriguez-Barberet, Jeannie Slayton, Hailey Winschel.

eight people posing for a photo, holding an award
Maureen Armstrong, Mike Ormsby, Kelly Gilbert, Anyse Lofman-Kwapien, Arthur Galinat, Erin Ciarimboli, Suzanne Peters, Vincent Walker, Eric Rosario, and Kim Duby receives the Team Award from President Radenka Maric during the Spirit Awards ceremony at the Alumni Center on April 9, 2026. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

Winner: UConn Solutions Lab And Shared Communications Group: Maureen Armstrong, Erin Ciarimboli, Kim Duby, Arthur Galinat, Kelly Gilbert, Alyse Lofman-Kwapien, Mike Ormsby, Suzanne Peters, Eric Rosario, Vincent Walker.

Finalist: Division Of Student Life & Enrollment (SLE) Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Committee, With Inclusive Excellence Citation: Terrence Abney, Liza Boritz, Yomarie Diaz, Ciara Hamilton, Scott Hauver, Susan Hayes, Steph Kernozicky, Evelyn Lang, Caroline McCall, Stacey Murdock, Suzanne Onorato, Bhavin Parekh, Erin Provistalis, Brian Rockwood, Jaron Tucker.

Finalist: Learning Communities (LC) Staff Team, With Inclusive Excellence Citation: Joshua Brown, Sara Dahlen, Alexis Doming, Melissa Foreman, Taylor Robichaud.

Finalist: UConn Botanical Conservatory (UBC) Team: Cole Geissler, Meghan Moriarty, Matthew Opel.

Finalist: UConn 4-H Team: Emily Alger, Marc Cournoyer, Jennifer Cushman, Maryann Fusco-Rollins, Bonnie Kegler, Emily Picad, Halie Shea, and Matthew Syrotiak.