Elon employees honored during 2024 Staff Appreciation Day

Elon University employees were honored on May 31 for their contributions to the university in the annual staff awards program held inside Schar Center.

The Phoenix Innovation Award is presented to a member of the Elon staff who has displayed innovation by creating, designing, improving or implementing a new idea or program that benefits the university or community. The 2024 award was presented to Karen Neff, assistant director, Elon Charlotte.

The Phoenix Rising Award is presented to one new member of the Elon staff who has consistently displayed excellence, inspired leadership and is a global citizen. The 2023 awards was presented Cheyenne Pinkston, coordinator of annual giving. Lauren Forbis, director of annual giving, accepted the award on behalf of Pinkston, who was not able to attend.

The Blanche Garrison Memorial Award, which was created in 2020, honors the contributions of hourly staff to mentoring, supporting, training, advising, supervising, coaching and befriending Elon students. It was established in memory of the late Blanche Garrison, an Elon Medallion awardee, who served the university with distinction as a housekeeper at Maynard House and was a friend to many staff, faculty and students across campus. The award was presented to Sonya Donaldson, program assistant in the Student Professional Development Center. Lauren Bosselait, senior associate director of corporate and employer Relations for the Love School of Business, accepted the award on behalf of Donaldson, who was not able to attend.

The Phoenix Community Engagement Award was presented to Kyle Anderson, associate director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. The award recognizes a member of the Elon staff who has demonstrated exemplary service to the university, local or global community through their engagement in volunteer organizations. Bryan was unable to attend Friday’s award ceremony.

The winners of the Phoenix Collaboration Award were those who worked in support of Elon’s Early Career Institute and the Mid-Level Professional Institute — Lauren Bosselait, TJ Bowie, Emily Krechel and Megan Noltemeyer. The award is presented to an Elon team or group that has fostered cooperation, collaboration, and open communication across two or more departments/offices/centers on campus. These individuals or teams may have collaborated and worked together on a project, a significant effort, or an initiative that advances Elon’s strategic priorities, fostering inclusive community, the residential experience, health and wellness and/or operational excellence.

Robin Plummer, administrative assistant to the president emeritus, was named Professional Hourly Staff Member of the Year; Jimmy Crawford, carpenter, was named Facilities Management Staff Member of the Year; and Stormy Shapiro, compensation and recruitment analyst, was named Administrative Staff Member of the Year.

Five staff members were also recognized on stage for their retirements from Elon — Barry Bradberry, associate dean of admissions and special assistant to the president; Paul Holt, maintenance engineer; Anthony Totten, sanitation driver; Geneva Weatherford, custodian; and Kyle Wills, senior associate director of athletics for business operations.

Other staff retiring this year include:

• Steven House, Executive Vice President and Provost Emeritus
• René Jackson, Associate Director of Career Services for Graduate School Programs and Director of PACE Program
• Patty Rooney, Program Assistant, the Biology, Chemistry and Physics Departments
• Melanie Truitt, Library Database Assistant
• Amy Vaughn, Program Assistant, Residence Life
• Gerald Whittington, Senior Vice President Emeritus and Special Assistant to the President

The day included a canned and nonperishable food drive as well as competitions, food and music for staff.