Augusta University recognized more than 475 employees for their years of service, totaling over 6,100 years combined. The annual Faculty and Staff Service Recognition and Staff Council Awards Ceremony was held on October 7 at the Grover C. Maxwell Theatre, with about 200 honorees attending in person.
President Russell T. Keen opened the event by acknowledging the impact of long-term staff on the university’s mission. “Each of you has played a vital role in shaping who we are. Your work – whether in classrooms, clinics, labs or offices – has advanced our mission and strengthened our community. You’ve shown what it means to serve with integrity, to lead with purpose and to care deeply about the people around you,” Keen said. He added that longevity provides stability and serves as a source of wisdom during times of change: “It’s a living library of institutional memory, guiding decisions with wisdom. It’s a bridge between generations, supporting colleagues and leaders. Longevity is a beacon of stability in times of transition and growth. As we celebrate the milestones, we also recommit to our shared mission to create an environment where every faculty, staff and student thrives, physically, professionally and personally. Let today be a reminder that the work we do matters.”
Ronitia Henry from Human Resources emphasized the importance of employee recognition events for motivation and retention: “I believe employee recognition plays a vital role in overall well-being, motivation and retention of our faculty and staff. When employees feel seen, valued and celebrated for their contributions, it creates a stronger sense of belonging and pride in our campus community,” she said.
Among those honored was Kimberly Mims from Communications and Marketing for her two decades at Augusta University since starting at the Medical College of Georgia in 2005 as an office specialist.
Cindy Tuttle was acknowledged as the only employee recognized for 40 years of service this year. Reflecting on her career across multiple departments including Public Safety and Pediatrics, Tuttle noted: “Every department I’ve been in has been like a family… The people, they’re like your family.”
Shareen Clement highlighted opportunities for professional development at Augusta University after earning her doctorate there: “I still talk to all my professors and love them so much… There’s no attitude of ‘We do it this way because we’ve always done it this way.’ There’s a lot of opportunity to be innovative, and no one is shutting that down.”
Staff Council Chair Cythia Beard presented awards recognizing individual excellence in areas such as student engagement, teamwork, facilities management, and administrative support.
This year saw more than 90 nominations submitted from across Augusta University campuses for these awards.
Recipients included Roberto Aragon (Student Impact Award) for his work supporting students’ transitions into college life; The Tree House team—Elizabeth Huggins, Angelica Hill, Morgan Hillman—for creating supportive environments through First- and Second-Year Experience programs; William Lutz (W. Clay Adamson Jr. Award) for his commitment to maintaining student housing facilities; Gennie Verbeck (James A. & Erie P. Blissit Award) for excellence in administrative support within Enrollment & Student Affairs.
The ceremony underscored how staff contributions help create a positive environment focused on student success at Augusta University.
