Rookie of the Year Award

The Rookie Award recognizes one faculty member and one staff member who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and growth in their new roles. The two recipients of this award successfully bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to their teams and show a strong commitment to learning and improving in their areas.

Award/Honor

One VCEA faculty and one VCEA staff will receive a certificate and honorarium..

Nomination Guidelines

  • The objective is to select one faculty and one staff member who has been employed with VCEA for two years or less that has shown evidence of immense development during their brief time within VCEA, irrespective of campus.
  • The nominee must have been hired on July 1st, 2024, or after.
  • Previous award winners are not eligible.
  • 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

  • Demonstrates exceptional development during their brief time within VCEA, outstanding dedication, and growth in their new roles.
  • Brings fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to their teams.
  • Shows a strong commitment to learning and improving in their areas.

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
2025Huiyun Wu (Faculty)Civil and Environmental Engineering
2025Kaye Paranada (Staff)Dean’s Office

Questions?

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