Staff Awards

UNT staff members distinguish themselves through their work and the support they provide to help the university accomplish its mission -- to give students the best educational experience in Texas. These awards recognize outstanding staff members who go above and beyond in their duties to contribute to UNT’s quality and excellence, to provide excellent customer service, to support student success, and to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace and campus.

For an entire month, UNT celebrates Staff Appreciation to honor staff members’ dedication to being a support system for students, faculty and the entire campus community. The month-long celebration culminates with the university’s Service Awards Ceremony, where staff members are recognized among their peers for their service and commitment to the university.

Learn more about the nomination process.

Steve Miller Outstanding Employee Award

Named in memory of Steve Miller, former assistant vice president of Human Resources, this award recognizes sustained excellence and contributions that positively impact a division, department, and the university. This is the highest honor a UNT staff member can receive.

Administrative Professionals Award

Recognizes the administrative staff whose commitment and support advance the university’s mission and the success of their programs.

Customer Impact Award

Acknowledges staff who create positive, effective working relationships and meaningfully improve the experience of students, employees, and internal or external customers.

Digital Transformation Award

Recognizes staff members who advance the university through digital innovation or digital transformation. Digital innovation includes developing creative digital solutions that improve the university experience or address emerging challenges. Digital transformation includes driving the adoption, implementation, and long-term use of digital tools, systems, or processes that improve how we work and serve the university community. Nominees may qualify through either digital innovation or digital transformation and are not required to demonstrate both. Contributions may include identifying an opportunity, completing or materially advancing a solution, or achieving meaningful impact in either area.

Excellence in Leadership Award

Recognizes senior executive staff leaders whose leadership and service make an outstanding contribution to the university’s success.

Foundational Champion Award

This award acknowledges employees whose essential, consistent contributions may occur outside the spotlight but are crucial to the university’s success.

Mentorship Award

Recognizes staff who positively influence colleagues or students through effective mentorship, coaching, or supervision.

Postdoctoral and Research Staff Excellence in Mentorship Award

This award recognizes postdoctoral and research staff members who have shown exceptional research mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students at the university.

Rising Star Award

This award recognizes newer staff members who demonstrate passion, promise, initiative, and meaningful early impact at UNT.

Soaring Integrity Award

This award recognizes staff who model exceptional ethical conduct, honesty, accountability, transparency, gratitude, respect, and trustworthiness.

Staff Excellence in Innovation Award

This award recognizes staff members who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, initiative, and impact in advancing innovation at the university. This may include process improvements, development of new tools or systems, creative problem-solving, or support of the UNT innovation ecosystem that fosters a culture of innovation.

Staff Excellence in Research Award

This award recognizes staff members who have made exceptional contributions to the university research enterprise. Whether through research support, research administration, or technical support, these employees help UNT researchers and students succeed and strengthen the university's research mission.

Student Success Excellence Award

Recognizes staff members who go above and beyond to help students succeed at UNT, whether by building a sense of belonging, working across departments, improving the student experience, trying something new, or supporting student well-being.

UNT Spirit Award

Recognizes staff who consistently demonstrate pride in UNT, support the campus community, and promote the university positively.

Presidential Awards

In addition to these, UNT staff members are also eligible for three UNT Presidential Awards: the UNT Community Award, the President's Special Recognition Award and the Bob Rogers Service and Community Engagement Award.