Garrett Swasey Outstanding Staff Award
Nominate a UCCS Staff Member Today!
In December 2015, the Executive Board of the UCCS Staff Council elected to rename the outstanding staff award in honor of Officer Garrett Swasey. This award acknowledges the outstanding achievements and contributions of a UCCS staff member who exemplifies excellence in service to the campus and community.
The recipient of the UCCS Garrett Swasey Outstanding Staff Award will receive a $1,000 cash award (taxes withheld) on their paycheck at the end of the month after the annual campus awards ceremony.
To be eligible for this award, the nominee must be: 1) a permanent – classified or university– staff member of UCCS and 2) employed as such for a minimum of three years as of December 31, 2024.
The recipient of the award demonstrates:
- exceptional commitment which exceeds job expectations;
- continual service to the UCCS community through various activities (e.g., committee work, staff involvement, community relations, etc.);
- positive working relationships with students, colleagues at all levels, and other constituents of the campus; and
- an active and ongoing commitment to the betterment of UCCS.
In all ways, nominees "go above and beyond the call of duty."
***Nominations must be submitted by the deadline of Friday February 21, 2025, 5pm MT***
Qualifying 2024 Employee of the Quarter Award winners will automatically be entered into the pool of Garrett Swasey Outstanding Staff Award nominees.
A nominator may nominate only one person for this award. However, a staff member can be nominated by more than one person.
Previous winners are not eligible. A list of those employees who previously won the award can be found below at the bottom of the page.
Nomination Process
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To nominate a deserving staff member, complete and submit a nomination form (link below) no later than February 21, 2025, 5pm MT. Late nominations will NOT be accepted.
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Each nominator will be notified of the status of their nomination on or before February 24, 2025.
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If your nominee is accepted, you will then be asked to secure two (2) additional letters of recommendation in support of the employee. Those recommendations are due no later than March 7, 2025.
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A screening committee consisting of Alumni & community members supportive of the University will evaluate the nominations. Selection of the winner is based solely on the materials submitted on behalf of the nominee, including the original nomination form.
* Once the winner is determined, the Award Committee Chair will contact the nominator, announce the winner to the campus, and provide information on the Campus Award Ceremony which will be tentatively held on Tuesday April 15, 2025, in the University Center.
More about.
Click Here to Complete the Nomination Form!
Ready to nominate a colleague?
Deadline to submit a Nomination Form is Friday February 21, 2025 by 5pm MT.
Please contact Ann Schwab (aschwab@uccs.edu) if you have any questions.
Who was Garrett Swasey?
Garrett Swasey (pronounced /Sway’zee/), 44, was a UCCS Police Officer who responded in support of Colorado Springs Police to an active shooter situation November 27, 2015.
He was killed in the line of duty. Officer Swasey was a six-year veteran of the UCCS Police Department.
Previous Award
Year | Winner |
2024 | Ann Schwab |
2023 | Stephen Cucchiara |
2022 | Rita Martinez* |
2021 | Ray Fisco |
2020 | Stephanie Hanenberg |
2019 | Clay Garner |
2018 | Phillip Morris |
2017 | Laura Chandler |
2016 | Marc Pino |
2015 | Benek Altayli |
2014 | Ida Bauer* |
2013 | Ian Smith |
2012 | Steve Linhart* |
2011 | Josephine Benavidez* |
2010 | Jane Muller* |
2009 | Jayne Lloyd* |
2008 | Kathy Griffith* |
2007 | Gwen Gennaro* |
2006 | Joe Simms |
2005 | Kathy Englund* |
2004 | Eileen O’Reilly |
2003 | Tom Ostenberg* |
2002 | Mary Lou Kartis* |
2001 | Curt Straub* |
2000 | Carmen Abeyta* |
1999 | Jackie Konselman* |
1998 | Susan Szpyrka (University Police)* |
1997 | Sherry Ekerholm |
1996 | Andrea Williams |
1995 | Patricia Green* |
1994 | Robert and Barbara Brown |
1993 | Carmen Abeyta* |
1992 | Lewis Garnett |
1991 | Antoinette Massengale* |
1990 | Susan Szpyrka (Bookstore)* |
1989 | Jose “Art” Terrones* |
1988 | Cindy Allen* |
1987 | Diane Hughson |
1986 | Debra Lee Ingalls* |
1985 | Douglas Johnson |
1984 | Miles Garner* |
1983 | Gloria Lawlis |
1982 | Patricia Van Matre* |
1981 | Muriel Claflin* |
1980 | Ruth Westcott* |
1979 | Zoe Bechtol |
1978 | Miles Garner* |
1977 | Edward Adams, Jr. |
1976 | Elizabeth Forney |
1975 | Norma Stroud |
* | Retired from UCCS |