Oklahoma State University
12/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/16/2025 09:41
Staff Advisory Council recognizes 2025 Distinguished Service Award recipients
Staff Advisory Council recognizes 2025 Distinguished Service Award recipients
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Media Contact: Jeff Hopper | Communications and Media Relations Manager | 405-744-5827 | [email protected]
The Oklahoma State University Staff Advisory Council recognized 26 nominees for the Distinguished Service Award on Thursday inside the Student Union's Starlight Terrace.
The annual ceremony provides the opportunity to honor outstanding staff members and highlight their lasting impact on the OSU community. The honorees exemplify excellence and service in their respective roles and dedicate themselves to creating a better experience for the faculty, staff and students around them.
"Today, we're honoring lives of dedication and service that have made Oklahoma State University a better place for everyone who walks this campus," OSU President Jim Hess said. "My time at OSU has taught me it's the people behind the scenes that make everything possible. You all go above and beyond to inspire our students to excel, provide support to our faculty and administrators and make sure this campus is a place we're all proud to call home."
Each nomination packet was reviewed by SAC members and then ranked - separating nominees into three categories: honorable mention, semifinalists and finalists. Each semifinalist received a certificate, each finalist received a certificate and $100, and the top three finalists received a certificate, trophy and $1,000, $1,500 and $3,000, respectively.
SAC also awarded 10 scholarships to staff members across campus.
2025 Distinguished Service Awards
First Place - $3,000
John Lee - Landscape Services
Second Place - $1,500
Jim Coakley - Ferguson College of Agriculture
Third Place - $1,000
Stephen Howard - Spears School of Business
Finalists - $100
Becky Walker - Pontotoc County Extension Office
Erin Potts - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Joe Teel - Office of Central Procurement
Karena Tyler - Office of the Bursar
Mónica Santillán - College of Arts and Sciences
Taylor Harbuck - Career Services
Trent Davis - Office of the Registrar
Semifinalists
Dakota Keith - Ferguson College of Agriculture
Dave Malec - Brand Management
Diana Garrett - Office of Federal and Sponsored Programs
Gertie Mulder - College of Arts and Sciences
Jeremy Brooks - Network and Telecommunication Services
Johnny Welch - Network and Telecommunication Services
Karolana Foister - OSU Library
Kyle Sires - Enterprise Information Technology
Michael McDonald - Parking and Transportation Services
Shannon Rigsby - Brand Management
Stacey Phan - University Health Services
Honorable Mention
Audra Price - Coal County Extension Center
Emmett Coleman - Network and Telecommunication Services
Jerribeth Rader - Ferguson College of Agriculture
Kathy Castre - Ferguson College of Agriculture
Rob Henry - FSS Moves and Special Events
Scholarship recipients
Austin Hayes
Heather Bigge
Jennifer Lane
Kristine Nichols
Lori Christian
Melisa Echols
Michelle Brice
Olivia Long
Samantha Lancaster
Stephen Howard
2025 Distinguished Service Award
First place John Lee (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Second place Jim Coakley (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Third place Stephen Howard (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Finalist Becky Walker (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Finalist Erin Potts (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Finalist Joe Teel (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Finalist Karena Tyler (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Finalist Monica Santillan (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Finalist Taylor Harbuck (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Finalist Trent Davis (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Semifinalist Dakota Keith (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Semifinalist Dave Malec (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Semifinalist Diana Garrett (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Semifinalist Jeremy Brooks (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Semifinalist Johnny Welch (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Semifinalist Karolana Foister (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Semifinalist Kyle Sires (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Semifinalist Michael McDonald (second from right) with (from left to right) Staff Advisory Counicl Member Angie Duckworth, OSU President Jim Hess and Staff Advisory Counicl Chair Sam Morse.Ellie Piper
Brand ManagementBursarCareer ServicesCollege of Arts and SciencesCollege of Education and Human SciencesCollege of Engineering Architecture and TechnologyDistinguished Service AwardEdmon Low LibraryEnterprise Information TechnologyFerguson College of AgricultureOSU ExtensionOffice of the RegistrarParking and TransportationProcurementSpears School of BusinessSponsored ProgramsStaff Advisory CouncilUniversity Health Serviceslandscape servicesstaff
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