Student Affairs Awards

Presented to the Student Affairs employee or group of employees who promote the development of community (to know and be known), improve the student experience through direct or indirect ways, and demonstrate a deep care and respect for the individuals they serve. Named for Zenobia Lawrence Hikes, Vice President for Student Affairs at Virginia Tech from 2005 until her death in 2008. Dr. Hikes challenged students, “Don’t just come to Virginia Tech to learn. Come to lead. The world is waiting on your special talents – your legacy.” Dr. Hikes believed that, at its absolute best, a Virginia Tech education is world-changing and steeped in leadership and service to others, and encouraged students to be actively involved in their Virginia Tech experience.

Criteria or qualities may include, but are not limited to, one of the following:

• Builds inclusive, supportive, caring, just, and diverse communities, either locally or at a global level
• Promotes cultural and multi-generational awareness
• Values and celebrates diversity
• Demonstrates respect and compassion for others
• Contributes to a welcoming environment in the department, division, or university.

Presented to the Student Affairs employee or group of employees who plan and facilitate an experience (for colleagues or students) that actively engages participants in exploring, practicing, and living the Aspirations for Student Learning. The experience should engage participants in a meaningful way that encourages participants to connect the Aspirations to their personal and professional lives. Nominations for this award should include information on the nature of the experience or event and learning outcomes achieved. This award relates to the division’s Aspirations for Student Learning strategic initiative.

Criteria or qualities may include, but are not limited to, one of the following:

• Develops a learner-centered experience and partnership with the learner
• Creates opportunity to reflect on the learning experience
• Engages participants through experiential options, individual and group conversations, or reflections that promote personal and professional knowledge, skill, and character development
• Creates spaces that promote and encourage academic engagement or professional development and student or employee success in integrated ways.

Presented to the Student Affairs employee or group of employees who create learning environments that foster equitable participation of all groups while seeking to address and acknowledge issues of oppression, power, and privilege. These programs, spaces, services, or policies focus on creating equitable, accessible, and welcoming environments in which individuals can thrive.

Criteria or qualities may include, but are not limited to, one of the following:

• Builds inclusive, supportive, just, and diverse environments or communities
• Promotes multicultural awareness
• Values and celebrates equity and inclusion
• Repairs past or current harms with historically marginalized communities
• Removes barriers to programs or services or dismantles systems of oppression, privilege, and power on campus
• Contributes to a socially just environment in the department, division, university, or community.

Presented to the Student Affairs employee or group of employees who create an environment or experience that promotes well-being and encourages success in others, centered on a sense of purpose, physical and emotional well-being, supportive relationships, financial security, or community satisfaction.

Criteria or qualities may include, but are not limited to, one of the following:

• Exemplifies sustainable collaboration across student affairs, university, or local or global communities
• Develops meaningful environments or experiences which promote personal or collective well-being
• Practices innovative use of resources to collaboratively and effectively fulfill a sense of purpose in developing and maintaining all types of well-being.

Presented to the Student Affairs employee or group of employees who epitomize the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) and provide leadership development or service opportunities that incorporate the values of leadership, including congruence, commitment, collaboration, common purpose, controversy with civility, citizenship, and change.

Criteria or qualities may include, but are not limited to, one of the following:

• Exemplifies sustainable collaboration across Student Affairs, university, or communities, either local or global
• Develops meaningful academic, co-curricular, or community-based relationships that advance employee or student learning in leadership or service
• Promotes institutional or divisional long-range planning and continuous improvement with the spirit of Ut Prosim
• Innovative use of resources to collaboratively and effectively achieve divisional or university values of leadership.

Presented to the Student Affairs employee or group of employees who provide excellence in operational performance and service, consistently achieve quality service, enhance the work of others through exceptional performance and efficiencies, and impact the overall operations or infrastructure of the university.

Criteria or qualities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Currently serves in a role that yields quality achievements
• Provides exceptional service to students, staff, and stakeholders
• Brings positive attention to their department, Student Affairs, or the university through their work
• Impacts the operational functions of the university through their work.

Presented to the Student Affairs employee or group of employees who exemplify outstanding dedication, care, and advocacy for Virginia Tech students. Named for Thomas "Tom" Brown Jr. (’75), retired Dean of Students, who served the Virginia Tech community for more than forty years, working as an extension agent, for the Alumni Association, and in Student Affairs. This award honors Dean Brown and reflects his deep passion to develop leaders, provide care, advocate for students, and serve Virginia Tech, and honors his dedication to the university’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). He was a consummate advocate for students, unrelenting in his passion to improve the lives of fellow Hokies over the course of his long career. Tom was a source of light when skies were cloudy, a source of laughter when heads hung low, and a proponent of warm hugs to counter isolation. In that spirit, this award recognizes superior achievements by individuals or groups dedicated to improving the lives of Virginia Tech students.

Criteria or qualities may include, but are not limited to, one of the following:

• Exemplifies outstanding dedication, care, and advocacy for Virginia Tech students
• Shows a sustained commitment to improving the lives of Virginia Tech students
• Displays compassion and noteworthy service to students that goes above and beyond their job responsibilities, reflective of a higher calling to serve, promote, and advance student well-being throughout the Virginia Tech community.