Please submit your completed nomination no later than March 16, 2026. All nominations must include the nomination form along with two supporting recommendations. Incomplete or late nominations will not be considered. Award recipients will be honored at the annual Service Recognition Celebration taking place in April 2026. We look forward to receiving your nominations and celebrating the outstanding contributions of our staff!

President's Awards for Professional and Administrative Distinction

In 2013, VCU established the President's Awards for Professional and Administrative Distinction. Through these awards, the Office of the President honors exceptional staff members within the VCU and VCU Health System community for outstanding performance, achievement and service excellence.

President's Award of Excellence

This award is the highest honor we can bestow upon an employee and it recognizes one exceptional person who exhibits leadership, uses innovative, creative, and/or problem-solving approaches to their responsibilities, embraces change, values and respects others, has given extraordinary service and support, and made significant contributions to VCU or the VCU Health System throughout their career. The recipient will receive $4,000 and a beautiful crystal award.

President's Outstanding Achievement Award

This award recognizes up to two people who have exceeded their peers in accomplishing exceptional achievements, leadership and contributions that have resulted in significant benefits to the university or health system within the realm of the employees' job. Each recipient will receive $3,000 and a beautiful crystal award.

The Danny Woodward Service Excellence Award

Awardees exceed expectations by demonstrating outstanding service to students, patients, colleagues and other customers of VCU and VCU Health and display a positive attitude even under the most difficult of circumstances. They build strong relationships and resolve concerns in a positive and sensitive manner. This award is named in memory of Danny Woodward, former executive director of executive communications, who died of brain cancer in 2021. Danny embodied the spirit of this award, always positive in his work with faculty, staff and students across the university and health system to advance the institution and its people. Danny was especially committed to supporting the professional development of staff and building a welcoming environment for everyone. This award recognizes up to two people and each recipient will receive $2,000 and a beautiful crystal award.

Nomination Criteria and Eligibility

Any VCU or VCU Health staff member may be nominated for these awards.
An employee who was nominated in a previous year, but was not chosen as the award winner, may be nominated again. However, a new nomination and new supporting documentation must be submitted.

Nominators

Nominations may be submitted by any employee of VCU or VCU Health who has a thorough knowledge of the candidate's strengths and accomplishments
Individuals may not nominate themselves
Individuals may not nominate a family member, spouse, or partner

Human Resources

Division of Finance and Administration