Employee Recognition Awards
2026 Employee Shout-Outs
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May
- Adri Phillips-Luhr, Counseling: Adri has quietly served as a powerhouse of the Counseling Team for 9 years. Adri has brought a wealth of knowledge, insight, lightness and stability to the team and to hundreds of students over the years. Thank you Adri, your ripple effect will go on.
- Liza Geduldig, Rachel Frascella, President’s Office: Once again, Liza and Rachel pulled off an exceptional Commencement ceremony and honorary degree dinner. From centerpieces and scripts to a new ticketing system, and volunteer coordination to the processional, every detail was thoughtfully coordinated and flawlessly executed. This was our first combined ceremony in many years, which brought the planning to a whole new level. Liza and Rachel, along with an incredible group of day-of volunteers, ensured that our graduates, honorees, families, and colleagues experienced something truly memorable. These are just two of the many events and initiatives that Liza and Rachel lead throughout the year. We cannot thank you enough for all the ways you make Champlain shine.
- Kate Reid, Marketing: You are going above and beyond to support the entire EM department and champion Champlain’s unique identity!
- Day of Service Committee: Thank you for organizing an awesome day for us all to give back to our community!
- Skip Harris, Maggie Riley, Isabella Poloes, Erin Kwon and David Boyle, The Counseling Center: A shout out to my amazing colleagues on the Counseling Team – Skip Harris, Maggie Riley, Isabella Poloes, David Boyle and Erin Kwon. I am deeply grateful to have worked in an environment where professionalism and respect are matched by genuine warmth, humor and camaraderie. This team is exceptionally dedicated to student wellbeing and to providing care of the highest quality. Collectively, they have quietly supported thousands of students over the years. In addition, they have supervised and mentored more than 20 master’s-level clinical interns, expanding the counseling center’s capacity to meet the needs of the student body while helping launch much-needed clinicians into the field. The collective knowledge and experience, ongoing commitment to professional development, and depth of clinical expertise within the team is remarkable, and I feel so very fortunate to have worked alongside such smart, talented and compassionate professionals for the last nine years.
- Erin Kwon, The Counseling Center: Erin has provided top notch counseling, outreach and education for the campus community for the past several years. She is conscientious, reliable, and an inspiration to many. Thank you, Erin!
- Adnane Adossama, Undergraduate Admission: Adnane, you are always going above and beyond to support your students and their support networks. You always have the best interest of your students/families in mind, and it does not go unnoticed! Keep rocking on.
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April
- Sami Kassel, Admissions Operations: Thank you, Sami, for your consistent, diligent, and often behind-the-scenes hard work! Your care and expertise are so appreciated.
- Zach Harrison, Housing & Residential Life: Zach led HRL in yet another successful Housing Selection process for Champlain’s residential students. He communicates processes clearly to students and navigates setting realistic expectations ahead of Housing Selection with them. Thank you for your leadership, Zach!
- Nick Pierce, Natasha Murray, Beth Dietriech and anyone else in the library: Thank you for your assistance in the execution of the 1st Beaver’s Get Lit. It was wonderful to have a literary event in the library.
- Susan Warwyck, Student Affairs: Susan donated her time, talent and resources towards crafting the SAAM Community Quilt that is hanging in the Stairnook Gallery. Susan, it is beautiful! Thank you for the generosity and enthusiasm you brought to this creation!
- Ezra Demers, CCO: Ezra is a constant bright spot of CCO – quietly and efficiently supporting multiple CCO functions, always with a smile and bringing positive energy to everything they do. We appreciate you Ezra!! Thank you!
- Jessica Mattera, MIC Library: Thank you for always doing the “thing” when I ask. You make my life easier and everything works better.
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March
- Zeke Davico, Career Collaborative: Shout out to Zeke for working with us in the Student Success Center to help our students stay on track with their Insight milestones. Zeke built us a really slick Dashboard that allows us to easily check a student’s status and provides links to various options for fulfilling outstanding milestones. Additionally, Zeke is incredibly helpful and responsive when we have additional questions. Thanks, Zeke!
- the CCO eLearning Team: A shoutout to the CCO eLearning team! They work year-round designing, developing, producing, and managing the delivery of our online courses, and they do it with skill, curiosity, and good humor. New responsibilities keep landing on their plates, and they take every one on with courage, resilience, and a willingness to improvise when things get messy. Thank you for being truly awesome!
- Danielle L’Esperance, Admissions: Danielle did an incredible job organizing and leading event efforts at Admitted Student Day! This is a full-campus event that involves pulling together so many different people (shoutout to everyone who plays a role in ASD!). Despite being asked a million questions by so many people around the college in the week leading up to the event, she answered quickly and knowledgeably. She is enthusiastic and welcoming to so many prospective students and families. Thank you Danielle for all of your hard work and dedication, and here’s to another great ASD 2!
- Christine Koogle, Student Engagement: Koogle is always willing to jump in and help and put in the extra effort. She is kind, caring, and supports our students in amazing ways. THANK YOU KOOGS!
- Champlain College Library, Champlain College Library: Huge thanks to everyone in the Champlain College Library for the incredible support you give to CCO! We appreciate the work you do to support our instructional designers, producers, faculty, and most importantly, our students.
- JJ Anderson, Ginger Pressey, and Wayne Buttles: Thank you all SO MUCH for your help with getting the new transcript printer up and running. Each step of the way brought on more complications and, on top of that, you all put up with my constant emails! HUGE shout out to Wayne for getting that final, missing puzzle piece. Who knew that there were so many different servers/systems involved in printing a transcript?!
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February
- Kelsey O’Connor, Tim Van Woert, Dany Wyman, Zach Harrison, Darrin Pillsbury, Housing and Facilities: Thank you for your exceptional response to the McDonald Hall water pipe emergency. Your swift action in relocating students, maintaining clear communication throughout the incident, and coordinating the cleanup and safety preparations made a difficult situation manageable for everyone involved. I’m grateful for your willingness to prioritize our students’ needs and handle this crisis so effectively.
- Hilary Delisle, Finance: Thank you for always connecting me the right person.
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January
- Presidents Office: I want to second the amazing holiday party. As some one who is not a dancer it was great to have an alternative activity. It was so much FUN!!
- Liza Geduldig & the MLK Committee: Liza and the MLK Committee have planned a number of thoughtful activities intended to build community and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Huge props for their creativity and commitment to this project. Please join us next Monday and Tuesday for brunch, a movie screening, the peace walk or our community gathering.
- Facilities Team: I appreciate you all going the extra mile, often showing up to campus at 4 in the morning, to make sure our campus is safe and walkable! Your tireless efforts do not go unnoticed.
- Emily Wright, TRAD Marketing: Emily started just a couple months ago and has really hit the ground running! She brings a wonderful set of skills to our team, and she’s carefully and quickly picking up all the complexities and nuances of our systems and data. Emily is a thoughtful, proactive colleague making a significant impact already. Thank you for your diligent work, Emily!
- Matt Huwiler, IS: Matt recently migrated the library’s Special Collections catalog to a new server. He spent hours making sure it was stable and functioning, as well as troubleshooting errors to ensure that everything transferred smoothly and functions as it should.
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Student Support Award
Students nominate a staff member who has gone above and beyond to make a positive impact on their experience at Champlain. This recognition is specifically for staff members engaging with students outside the classroom. Faculty members in dual staff roles are also eligible.
The 2025 Student Support Award winners are Jonathan Banfill for faculty and Christine Koogle for staff!
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Rising Star Award
This award is presented to an individual who has worked at the college for less than two years and has had a significant influence on our community. Criteria considers innovation, collaboration, positive impact on others, and enthusiasm for Champlain.
The 2025 Rising Star Award winners are Meghan Broughton, Phylise Banner, and Raelyn Gladstone!
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Elizabeth A. Durick Staff Service Award
The Elizabeth A. Durick Staff Service Award is intended to recognize a staff member who has had a positive impact on the College community. This honor, to be awarded every year, is named in honor of the late Elizabeth Durick, who was an exemplary staff member.
The 2026 Elizabeth A. Durick Staff Service Award winner is Melanie Brown!
Years of Service Recognition
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5 Years
John James Anderson
Nathan Brooks
Josie Bunnell
Frankie Burch
Jamie Camp
Javier Canessa
Cory Davis
Ezra Demers
Laura Ennis
Christian Konczal
Mariam Khader
Mark Pierce
Michelle Platt
Zoltan Sachs
Ed Schlak
Sarah Stack
Monique Taylor
Lisa Tiffin -
10 Years
Bruce Bovat
Tara Chasnoff
Nick Faulk
Adam Goldstein
Murat Gungor
Caitlin Hollister
Joel Lenoir
Mary Beth McNulty
Katherine Mumbauer
John Rasmussen
Warren Sides
Caroline Steele
Marianne Werner
Van Dora Williams -
15 Years
April O’Dell
Sarah Andriano
Gary Baker
Debra Dayman
Lindsey Godwin
Alan Larsen
Kristin Wolf
Katheryn Wright -
20 Years
Josh Buck
Anthony Calacci
Ken Howell
Roland Palmer
Jennifer Vincent
Kerry Zuccareno -
25 Years
Matthew Huwiler
Elaine Young
Spot Award
The Spot Award is presented to Faculty and Staff by their manager for work that goes above and beyond. Awards are a $50 gift card. Managers are expected to use discretion and judgment. Not all employees will receive one/more per year. To nominate someone please complete the form.
Here are some examples of the reasons Spot Award winners have been nominated:
- Creating an innovative solution to improve a process
- Taking the lead to implement an idea
- Volunteering to take the lead on a project
- Going the extra mile in customer service to help someone in the Champlain Community or an external customer
- Working beyond normal hours on a project
- Leading a community service project for employees and co-workers
- Take on a leadership role in a campus group such as staff council, campus committee
Other Awards & Recognition from Around Campus
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Edward Phelps Lyman Impactful Educator Award
Edward Phelps Lyman Impactful Educator Award
Established in: 1984
In recognition: Edward Phelps LymanChamplain College’s highest recognition of achievement for full-time faculty is presented to an individual whose career embodies the very best of what it means to be an educator. Ideal candidates have built a lasting legacy through exceptional teaching and meaningful mentorship, with a track record of shaping students’ professional paths and personal growth. Recipients are those whose teaching leaves a lasting mark on students, influencing not just their careers, but their lives.
Champlain Values: Engaged Learning, Practicality
The 2026 Edward Phelps Lyman Professorship Award winner is Jonathan Banfill!
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Francine Page Outstanding Adjunct Educator
Francine Page Outstanding Adjunct Educator
Established in: 2011
In recognition: Francine PagePresented to an adjunct faculty member who demonstrates dedication to student success, commitment to the mission of Champlain College, and excellence in teaching. Ideal candidates foster meaningful connections and community, show a consistent commitment to deepening their content expertise and apply pedagogically sound teaching and learning practices that create an engaging and inclusive learning environment.
Champlain Values: Engaged Learning, Interconnectedness, Inclusivity
The 2026 Francine Page Outstanding Adjunct Educator Award winner is Teppi Zuppo!
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Experiential Learning Excellence Award
Experiential Learning Excellence Award (formerly Academic Innovation Award)
Established in: 2022Presented to a faculty member or team who demonstrates outstanding commitment to experiential learning and academic innovation and their transformative impact on students. Ideal candidates intentionally design and champion learning experiences that bridge the classroom and the real world through internships, co-ops, project-based learning, community partnerships, applied simulations, novel curriculum design, or technology integration, deepening student understanding and ensuring they graduate not just with knowledge, but with the skills, confidence, and connections to thrive in their fields.
Champlain Values: Innovation, Practicality
The 2026 Experiential Learning Excellence Award Award winner is Rachel Hooper!
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Champlain Service Award
Champlain Service Award
Established in: 2026Presented to a faculty member who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to the strength and vitality of Champlain College as an institution. Ideal candidates contribute meaningfully to college life through committee work, faculty governance, program development, or other efforts that advance the mission and culture of Champlain, embodying the collaborative spirit that makes the institution thrive.
Champlain Values: Interconnectedness, Inclusivity
The 2026 Champlain Service Award winner is Melanie Brown!
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Elizabeth Durick Champlain Community Impact Award
Elizabeth Durick Champlain Community Impact Award
Established in: 1996
In recognition: Elizabeth Durick, Staff and Trustee of the BoardThis award recognizes a staff member whose work visibly strengthens the Champlain community, whether through initiatives that bring people together, efforts that improve the student or employee experience, or contributions that make the college a better place to work and learn. The recipient goes beyond their role to create positive ripple effects across campus, building connections between people and departments. Whether through practical solutions that make everyday work better or initiatives that bridge gaps across campus, their impact reflects Champlain’s commitment to interconnectedness.
Champlain Values: Interconnectedness, Practicality
The 2026 Elizabeth Durick Champlain Community Impact Award winner is Jen Perlee!
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Mentorship & Growth Award
Mentorship & Growth Award
Established in: 2026This award honors a staff member who invests meaningfully in the growth of their colleagues and models a commitment to continuous learning. Through coaching conversations, knowledge-sharing, and consistent encouragement, they help others build skills, navigate challenges, and develop professionally. They don’t wait to be asked; they create a culture of engaged learning where development and innovation are part of everyday work, whether that means trying new approaches, embracing change, or helping others see challenges as opportunities to grow.
Champlain Values: Engaged Learning, Innovation
The 2026 Mentorship & Growth Award winner is Phylise Banner!
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Integrity & Inclusion Award
Integrity & Inclusion Award
Established in: 2026This award recognizes a staff member who consistently fosters a sense of belonging for everyone around them. They hold themselves and others to high ethical standards, speak up when it matters, and work to ensure that all voices are heard and valued. Their commitment to doing what’s right and making space for diverse perspectives strengthens the trust and cohesion of our community, reflecting Champlain’s belief that inclusive teamwork and diverse individual strengths make us all better.
Champlain Values: Inclusivity
The 2026 Integrity & Inclusion Award winner is Anthony Rivers!
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Staff Council Award
Staff Council Award
Established in: 2008This award celebrates the colleague whose presence elevates the culture; someone whose warmth, authenticity, and genuine investment in the people around them reflect the very best of what the Champlain community can be.
Champlain Values: Interconnectedness, Inclusivity
The 2026 Staff Council Award winner is Erika Lea!