Education is the birthright of every person. We as members of the University of Nebraska Office Professionals Association pledge ourselves to safeguard that right. We acknowledge the unique role of educational office professionals and the importance of their contributions to the university and the community. The purpose of UNOPA is to provide professional growth and promote high professional standards for educational office professionals with the University of Nebraska, as partners upholding the quality of service to the university educational system and the community.

Floyd S. Oldt Outstanding Staff Award

Please click here for a printable version of the guidelines and application process.

The Floyd S. Oldt Outstanding Staff Award was created to recognize an office/service, hourly employee at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who demonstrates distinguished service and contributions to the University community. This Award is made possible by an endowment to the University Foundation by Floyd S. Oldt. Any University employee can nominate another employee for the award; however, no self-nominations are allowed.

Eligibility: Any permanent, hourly employee at UNL with at least five (5) years service and 50 percent or greater FTE.

Note: UNL is defined to include the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska District Research and Extension Centers or Central Administration; and, UNO or UNMC if their primary work location is on the UNL campus. (Members of the Awards Committee, including the director, and UNOPA elected officers are ineligible. Individuals who have previously received award are ineligible. An individual cannot be nominated for both the Floyd S. Oldt Outstanding Staff Award and the Floyd S. Oldt Silver Pen Award within the same membership year). In the event of a tie of total points given by the judges, the monetary award will be split among the winners.

Award: Monetary gift of $1,000, a plaque and a one-year UNOPA membership. All Floyd S. Oldt Outstanding Staff nominees will receive a printed certificate to commemorate their nomination and will be recognized at the Award Luncheon being held on November 10, 2009. The winner will not be notified in advance.

Guidelines & Instructions to submit nomination: Please return -

• A cover page with the following information: Nominee's name, title, department, address and date of hire; Nominator's name, campus address & zip, campus phone number, e-mail address.
• One or two typed pages - nomination according to the criteria listed below and in blind format. In addition
• Three (3) letters of recommendation in support of this nomination are required. Support letters must be in "blind format". Nominations without three support letters will not be considered.

What is "blind format"? To help assure impartiality, nominee's name, title and department are noted only on the front cover page. (Judges do not receive the cover page.) For all other pages (one or two pages addressing criteria plus support letters), do not use the nominee's name, department or reference to gender. To reference nominee, it is suggested to use: this person, this nominee, this individual, our nominee, etc. Note: Any reference to nominee's name or gender will be blackened by the Award Committee before the package goes to the judges. This makes it very difficult for the judge to read and may be a detriment to the nomination.

Other tips for writing a nomination:

• The judges will be using the "criteria for evaluation" to assess each nomination. Be sure to address each of the criteria!
• Cite specific examples - use descriptive adjectives ("this person is a terrific team player") and then give a situation or example that shows the attribute.
• Proofread! Check for spelling errors!
• The judges are relying on your words and examples to "see" your nominee's contributions. Speak from your heart!
• Be timely in getting your nomination packet to the awards chairperson.

Judges: There will be six (6) judges, all from UNL: an administrator, one faculty member, a director, a manager or supervisor, one office employee, and one service employee.

Past Recipients