North Star Award

The North Star Award honors one VCEA staff member in a supervisory role who demonstrates strong, thoughtful and compassionate leadership. Like the North Star, this individual is a consistent and trusted point of reference who supports and empowers their team through integrity, collaboration, and effective communication.

Award/Honor

One VCEA staff will receive a certificate and an honorarium.

Nomination Guidelines

  • The objective is to select one staff member who consistently demonstrates attributes of a strong leader.
  • This award is open to all VCEA Civil Service and/or AP staff, irrespective of campus.
  • The nominee must hold a supervisory role.
  • Requirements for the nomination package are:
    • One nomination letter (no more than one page in length).
    • Up to three letters of recommendation are welcome, but not mandatory.

Selection Criteria

  • Exemplifies strong leadership in their respective supervisory role through integrity, collaboration, and effective communication.
  • Has made a measurable impact on team performance, morale, and the achievement of organizational goals.
  • Fosters a thoughtful, inclusive, and collaborative work environment to empower their team.

Deadline

All nominations should be submitted in Qualtrics on or before Friday, March 13, 2026, by 5:00 pm (PST).

Previous Award Recipients

YearNameSchool/Department
2026Bridget PilcherDevelopment
2026Gwen MillerElectrical Engineering and Computer Science

Questions?

If you have questions about the award criteria and nomination process, please contact: