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Office of the Provost, Division of Academic Affairs, University of Maryland

Announcements

Nominate Today: The Terrapin Innovation & MVP Impact Awards

A weathered bronze statue of testudo, nose polished by eager students looking for a bit of good luck looks to a bright blue sky over a lush green field of McKeldin Mall

Dear colleagues,

Staff-focused initiatives that support the work of our Fearlessly Forward strategic plan to invest in people and communities remain a top priority for the University of Maryland. Our goal is to create a workplace where staff thrive through new opportunities to learn, lead and advance, and are recognized for their talents and contributions.

Over the past year and a half, we have made progress in developing programs centered around recognition, career advancement, and professional development. An example of that progress are The Terrapin Innovation Award and MVP Impact Awards. This past February, we celebrated the inaugural winners of these awards at a special ceremony, affording our university a unique way to recognize our talented and innovative staff. We are excited to share that these awards will be granted again in early 2025!

The Awards Process

University Human Resources is pleased to announce that the Terrapin Innovation Award and the MVP Impact Award are now open for nominations! Recipients of these awards will be honored at a reception in early 2025, each receiving a $1,000 cash award.

  • The Terrapin Innovation Award recognizes staff members for new ideas - either implemented or still in the “idea” stage - that capture the spirit of moving Fearlessly Forward with innovative and creative thinking that benefits their unit, department or the university.
  • The MVP Impact Award recognizes staff members who, over the past year, have demonstrated a Fearlessly Forward attitude of excellence, remarkable service and outstanding contributions that benefited their unit, department or the university.

Let’s invest in each other! We encourage everyone to take a moment and nominate yourself or a colleague. A slide deck for nominators and printable flyers and nomination forms in multiple languages are available on the UHR website. Please also join us on October 9 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for a Power Hour to learn about the nomination process, how to write a stand-out nomination, and to have any questions answered by UHR. Register for the Zoom Power Hour.

Nominations for both awards are due by October 31, 2024.

We are energized by the collective efforts across campus, helping us advance our work to invest in people, their well-being, and growth, thereby creating the conditions that support their ability to fully participate and thrive in our UMD community.

Sincerely,

Jennifer King Rice
Senior Vice President and Provost
She/Her/Hers

Bob Reuning
Interim Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer
He/Him/His

Patricia A. Perillo
Vice President for Student Affairs
She/Her/Hers

Georgina Dodge
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
She/Her/Hers