STAFF AWARDS

Internal Awards

Sharon Casillas, graduate program coordinator in the department of criminology, law and justice, earned a 2008 Janice Watkins Award for Distinguished Civil Service. The Watkins Award, which includes a $1,000 one-time prize, goes to three employees chosen by the Support Staff Advisory Committee.

Dedicated to the graduate students she supports, Casillas says, "I enjoy the interaction with students and watching them grow within the program." As she puts it, "I’m extremely curious about knowing what the end of each ‘story’ is."

Associate Director of secondary education Kimberly Clark won the 2008 Chancellor's Academic Professional Excellence (CAPE) Award. Selected by a campus-wide committee of fellow academic professionals, CAPE winners receive a $1,000 salary increase and a $2,000 cash award.

Since 2004, she’s been in charge of advising for all secondary education students and helps elementary education students prepare for coursework in the College of Education. She also coordinates the UIC Chicago Public Schools Bridge Program, which lets qualified CPS juniors and seniors enroll in college courses. Clark reviews applications and advises the students. Described by her colleagues as an academic adviser who goes "above and beyond,” Clark says that watching the students she advises progress from freshman year to graduation keeps her motivated: "The students are definitely the reason I come to work every day."

In 2008, Vera Shack, staff member in the department of Slavic and Baltic languages and literatures, was awarded the UIC Award of Merit for her efforts in helping both students and faculty as well as fellow staff members. The UIC Award of Merit honors the university’s outstanding support and academic professional employees. Recipients receive a UIC Award of Merit memento and a $2,500 cash award.