Investing in Staff Fearlessly Forward Awards
The Terrapin Innovation & MVP Impact Awards
The University of Maryland wants to acknowledge the amazing ideas and service of our staff. The Terrapin Innovation Awards and the MVP Impact Awards recognize staff members who exemplify a Fearlessly Forward attitude and devote their skills and suggestions to make the workplace a better place. Whether you nominate a co-worker, someone from another part of campus, or yourself, we hope you will help us celebrate colleagues whose contributions to UMD deserve recognition.
Up to 25 awards will be given in this annual process, each with a cash prize of $1,000! Recipients will be selected from nominees in two categories: the Terrapin Innovation Award and the MVP Impact Award.
The Terrapin Innovation Award
Recognizes staff members for new ideas–either implemented or still in the “idea” stage–that capture the spirit of moving Fearlessly Forward with innovative and creative thinking that benefits their unit, department, or the university. For example:
- Provides a creative solution to a problem or workplace challenge
- Suggests new ways to improve the quality of services or programming
- Promotes productivity and/or enhances the workplace
Full or part-time staff who are classified as C1, C2, non-exempt, or exempt are eligible for this award, regardless of length of service.
The MVP Impact Award
Recognizes staff members who, over the past year, have demonstrated a Fearlessly Forward attitude of excellence, amazing service and outstanding contributions that benefited their unit, department or the university. For example:
- Contributes a significant positive impact on the team
- Demonstrates commitment to the team and university
- Builds a community within the department
- Embodies the core values of the university
- Provides quality work, sometimes behind the scenes, that contributes to the success of operations, programs or projects
- Performs distinguished work that makes everything go smoothly for everyone else
Full or part-time staff who are classified as C1, C2, non-exempt, or exempt, with at least three years of service, are eligible for this award.
Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to submit nominations of staff no later than October 31, 2024, with the awardees to be announced in December.
Click below to learn more and submit nominations.
You will need to provide the name, email, department, and position of the person you are nominating as well as information (500-word limit) supporting the nomination. Staff meeting eligibility requirements are encouraged to self-nominate.
For nominators who work on multilingual teams, do not have access to the online process, or prefer paper, and for those who want to support potential nominators, these tools might be helpful:
- Marketing flyers in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole
- Paper nomination forms for the Terrapin Innovation Award (Spanish or Haitian Creole) and for the MVP Impact Award (Spanish or Haitian Creole)
- A slide deck for supervisors to share during team meetings
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the nominator(s) will be notified at two points in the award process. First, the nominator will receive a copy of their nomination submission. Second, the nominator will be notified of the final status of their nominee.
Sure! We recognize that our staff is multi-talented.
A selection committee will review all nominations and determine awardees based on the criteria for each award.
The awardees will be announced in early December and invited to a recognition reception in the spring.
Yes, your prize will be included in your paycheck and deductions will be based on your current tax status.
Please send an email to Awards@umd.edu or call 301-405-5252.
The Awards Selection Committee members range in individual with various position types across different units on campus. This year’s committee also includes previous award recipients.
The Awards Selection Committee bases its decisions on the information shared in the nomination and how closely it relates to the award criteria, which may be achieved through one or multiple nominations.
Currently, there is not an option to attach supplemental materials to nominations.
Yes, you can nominate groups of people. However, each staff member identified in the nomination will be considered for an individual award. Award recognition and cash awards will not be split amongst groups.
Nominations should be written by the individual(s) who can best address how or why the nominated individual meets the award criteria in 500 words or less.
Individuals being nominated for the MVP Impact Award would need to have worked for the University for 3 years by the start of the nomination period which this year was October 1, 2024.