Jumbo Appreciation Awards
The Jumbo Appreciation Awards recognize extraordinary contributions by our staff toward the educational and research mission of school, including our commitments to creating an inclusive environment.
All staff members in the School of Arts and Sciences (including SMFA at Tufts), the AS&E Shared Student Divisions (including Student Life, Student Services, Undergraduate Education, Student Diversity and Inclusion, Admissions, and Tisch Library), and the School of Engineering are eligible for this award. Nominations can be made by anyone–colleagues, faculty, managers, and students.
Categories to nominate staff include:
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice (DEIJ) – acknowledges staff who carry out DEIJ work for their unit, department, and/or school
- Team Player – congratulates someone for always moving the group forward
- Above & Beyond – recognizes a colleague who goes the extra mile
- Leader of the Herd – thanks a manager or colleague for expert guidance
- Jumbo Ideas – rewards a colleague who thinks outside the box and finds creative solutions
- **New for 2024** Lunch on Us Team Award – recognizes staff teams/groups achieving a milestone, completing a major project, maintaining positive attitudes during a challenging time, and/or managing multiple deliverables in a limited time
Nomination Process: Submissions via the online nomination form will be accepted on a rolling basis. Selection committees comprised of representatives from A&S and the Shared Student Divisions will select the winners for their respective school/divisions.
Award: Individual winners will receive an elephant figurine as well as a bonus day (i.e. an extra vacation day) to recognize their special contributions. Winning "Lunch on Us" teams will be treated to group lunch.
The bonus day should be used by June 30, the end of the fiscal year when it was awarded. (Winners in the months of April, May and June can either use their day or roll it over for use the following fiscal year. Use and approval of bonus days follow all the same processes as vacation days.)
Recent Winners:
January/February 2024
John Stark, Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies
Category: Jumbo Ideas
briana Sevigny, Student Life (Community Standards)
Category: Leader of the Herd
Brandon Stafford, Mechanical Engineering
Category: Above & Beyond
SoE Staff Life Committee
Category: Lunch on Us
Residential Life and Learning
Category: Lunch on Us
February 2022
Laura McDonald, Tufts University Art Galleries
Category: Leader of the Herd
David Watts, Residential Life and Learning
Category: Team Player
Donna Cirelli, Computer Science
Category: Above & Beyond