WSU Human Resource Services is hosting their 17th annual employee recognition reception on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
This reception is taking place simultaneously across eight locations: WSU Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Everett and three new extension locations in Puyallup, Mount Vernon, and Wenatchee, with online viewing as well. The reception will begin at at 3 p.m.
During the ceremony, the Crimson Spirit Award and the Length of Service Milestone Award are presented to the employee nominees, said Jaide Wilhelm, executive assistant to the Vice President. Wilhelm has worked with the Employee Recognition Reception event since the pandemic when they hosted the ceremony online, which was both difficult and exciting.
“I love to see all the individuals that have worked for WSU for so long get recognition, as well as seeing faculty who are just working hard and getting their jobs done that do not realize the impact their work has on students and that they get to see that they truly make a difference for the university,” Wilhelm said.
The Crimson Spirit Award is presented when an individual nominates a faculty member who they believe has demonstrated good customer service, has gone above and beyond expectations, has anticipated the needs of students and has provided outstanding contribution to the WSU community, Wilhelm said. Each year there are 12 winners chosen for the Crimson Spirit Award, with three winners being picked per quarter.
The employee recognition committee is made up of various WSU members system wide, with representatives from each campus who gather to vote on the nominees and chose who will be presented the awards, she said. The Length of Service Award is given to faculty who have hit a five-year milestone in their career, where there is not a limit for receivers on this award.
During this upcoming reception, a faculty member who has worked at WSU for 55 years will be receiving their Length of Service Award, which is a big milestone, Wilhelm said. She anticipates that there will be around 330 attendees which will span across the different locations.
Lexie Murray, human resource services coordinator, said each recipient of the Length of Service Award gets a gift and recognition on their social media.
“During the event, we present the awards, we serve food for the attendees, and we even show a few videos that showcase the work these faculty members have done to help contribute to the WSU community, it is good celebration of the work employees have done throughout the year,” Murray said.
