UF TRSM Staff Member Wins Superior Accomplishment Award

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - April 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Gainesville, FL – Erika Banks-Payne, Grants Assistant in the Department of Tourism, Recreation & Sport Management, was recently selected to receive the Division III 2013 Superior Accomplishment Award in the Clerical/Office Support category.  The Super Accomplishment Awards are offered by the Office of Human Resource Services at the University of Florida on an annual basis.  Division III includes all units under the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Joe Glover.  

Award recipients are nominated by their peers and then endorsed by their supervisor. Banks-Payne was nominated by Julie McGrath, Graduate Program Assistant, and recommended by her supervisor, Elizabeth Cody, Office Manager. As part of the nomination process, Banks-Payne’s accomplishments over the past academic year (August 1, 2011 – July 31, 2012) were noted. Banks-Payne accomplished much more than the average employee.  Over that time period, the Department was severely under-staffed; there were three open positions for new faculty; an open position for Office Manager; and a staff member out on medical leave. Thus, Banks-Payne was extremely busy as she worked on grants management, human resources, payroll, international faculty hires, and even some travel.  That is definitely enough responsibility to overwhelm anyone, but Banks-Payne plainly stated, “I was just doing my job.”  

The Superior Accomplishment Awards recognizes those who are excelling in their job performance, are providing outstanding service to clientele, are assisting beyond normal job expectations, and are dedicated to the job and to the University. Banks-Payne unquestionably exemplifies all of those criteria and was recognized at a breakfast ceremony in Emerson Hall on February 20th.  At the ceremony, twenty-one award winners were recognized and Dr. Joe Glover had wonderful things to say about each individual.  Banks-Payne said that her favorite part of the ceremony was “seeing everyone feeling so appreciated.” Sometimes in the busyness of day-to-day operations around the University, people can get caught up in all that is going on, so it is very nice to take a step back every year and recognize great people for all the hard work that they do.
 
Banks-Payne was awarded a $200 cash award and is in the running for the university-level awards, which offer eight $1000 and eight $2000 cash awards.  That award ceremony will be held in the J. Wayne Reitz Union in April 2013.

The Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management is committed to national and international excellence in the generation, dissemination, and communication of knowledge in tourism, recreation and sport management.  The Department is also dedicated to excellence in the preparation and training of future industry and academic professionals, and providing relevant outreach to stakeholders.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Dr. Michael Sagas (Department Chair) at msagas@ufl.edu (352.294.1640) or Stephanie Thorn (Marketing and Public Relations) at stephaniethorn1@hhp.ufl.edu (352.392.3992).