Fourteen Missouri S&T employees were honored for their contributions to the campus during the university’s Staff Appreciation Day celebration on Wednesday, May 24.

Candidates for the awards were nominated by faculty, staff and students. The winners were selected based on job performance, relationships with associates and dedication to Missouri S&T.

Six staff members received Staff Excellence Awards. In addition to a plaque, each winner will also receive a gift from Legends Bank and a monetary award of $1,000 provided by the chancellor’s office. The winners are:

• Nina Eickhorst, business support specialist for the registrar’s office.
• James Gunn, custodian in facilities services.
• Brandon Guth, sergeant for the University Police.
• Jason Cox, senior research specialist in the Center for Infrastructure Engineering.
• Julie Parker, assistant registrar for the registrar’s office.
• Jacqueline Meinecke, assistant director of Kummer Student Programs.

Five staff members received Outstanding Newcomer Awards, given to staff members who have made a positive impact in their first two years at Missouri S&T. The winners are:

• Simran Bhatia, student service coordinator for student well-being.
• Mark Evans, business support specialist II in student involvement.
• Emma Lowe, associate director of doctoral recruitment in admissions.
• Brianna Reddick, data analyst II for the vice chancellor of Finance and Operations.
• Jill Tanner, director of digital marketing in marketing and communications.

The Outstanding Faculty Award recognizes a faculty member who is actively engaged in supporting staff across campus. The 2023 award went to Dr. Shannon Fogg, professor of history and political science and interim associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education.

In addition to the staff and faculty excellence awards, Staff Council presented the Jan Buhlinger Spirit Award to Joni Matlock, finance and accounting analyst for the College of Engineering and Computing, and Jacquelyn Sansone, fiscal manager for the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education. The award is named for the late Jan Buhlinger, a former Missouri S&T staff member and member of Staff Council. Recipients are selected by Staff Council based on their Missouri S&T spirit.