Inspired by a colleague? Nominate them for a U Make a Difference Award

There are many things that can motivate a nominator to put forward a group to receive a U Make a Difference Award — gratitude, admiration, pride and awe just to name a few. Steven Vamosi, associate dean of diversity and equity, nominated the Energy Bioengineering and Geomicrobiology Research group in 2017 because of what he calls “pure inspiration.”

“They’re one of the groups I look to for inspiration,” Vamosi says. “I really thought what the group does was worthy of more than than just a simple thank you.”

He nominated three team members, Marc Strous, Christine Sharp and Casey Hubert for a U Make a Difference Award because of how they work together to make respect, diversity and equality a priority in the workplace.

• Above, Marc Strous, Casey Hubert, and Christine Sharp (not pictured) make the university a great place to live, learn and work.

“I think honoured is the right word to describe how it felt to be nominated for the award,” says Marc Strous, professor and CAIP Chair in Energy Bioengineering in the Faculty of Science. “It’s really heartwarming when people make that effort for you.”

Vamosi says the award had everything to do with how Strous, Sharp and Hubert made their work environment cohesive, inclusive and open for their students and researchers. “Their group is cohesive and an inspiration to the whole department,” he says.

Singling out just one member of the team, he says, wouldn’t have been the right thing to do — adding his pleasure for the fact this award makes ample room for group nominations (up to 10 individuals in one group).

Letters make all the difference

Nominations are open to the whole UCalgary community from Feb. 13 to March 15. Managers can nominate their staff, and employees can nominate their managers or peers, and nominators don’t even have to work directly with the person they’re nominating. What matters, says Vamosi, is the letters in the nomination are strong, active and passionate.

“After I decided to nominate, the next part was finding the right people to write a letter of support,” he says. “We found the people who would have the passion, truth and time to put together a letter.”

Energy Bioengineering and Geomicrobiology Research group had four total recommendation letters, all showcasing the kind of inspiration the group was nominated for.

“They are a pleasure to work for because they are as committed to equality in our workplace, as the science that comes out of it,” reads one letter penned by a Master of Science student.

“The work Marc, Casey, and Christine have put on making EBG a great place to work and do research is exemplary,” says another student from the Schulich School of Engineering in their letter of support. “They have created a high standard for well-being and positive work environment at the University of Calgary that might inspire others to follow.”

Making a difference with recognition

The U Make a Difference award program recognizes individuals and teams who exemplify excellence and the ability to reach above and beyond the expected to make a difference in our university community. Their performance, commitment and service help make the university a great place to learn and work.  

After working at UCalgary for over four years, Strous says he’s a big fan of the university’s dedication to recognition, something he says is difficult to find with other employers.

“I feel there is a lot of activity here, a lot of greatness,” he says. “It makes the university a really nice place to work and learn — I hope it continues.”

Recognition is one of the 13 factors illustrated in the National Standard. The University of Calgary is a recipient of the Excellence Canada Mental Health at Work Silver Level Certification in this area. Visit WellBeing and WorkLife to learn more about the implementation of the National Standard at the University of Calgary and to learn about existing programs and resources that support each of the 13 Factors.