New Award Will Recognize Staff Who Build Bridges at UVA

University of Virginia President Jim Ryan is unveiling a new award to recognize Academic Division and Medical Center staff who have collaborated across units, departments, and schools.

In partnership with UVA’s Division of Human Resources, Ryan is inviting students, staff, faculty and Health System team members to submit nominations for the new “Hoos Building Bridges Award,” effective immediately. Nominations are rolling and accepted throughout the year. Twelve recipients will be awarded biannually—six in the fall and six in the spring.

The awards are biannual, so a second call will be issued in January. Only Academic Division staff and Medical Center team members are eligible to receive the accolades, which include a monetary award, a framed certificate and a feature story about the winners’ work on UVA Today’s Building Bridges page.

Ryan introduced the concept of building bridges in his welcome address to UVA’s entering class at August’s Opening Convocation.

“When in doubt, build a bridge,” he told the Class of 2022 on that warm, muggy evening on the Lawn.

“By building bridges with your fellow students, with faculty and staff, and with the broader Charlottesville community, you will both strengthen this community and you will learn and grow as a person,” he said “Just like the brain builds connections across neurons as it develops and grows, a community is only as strong as the connections within it, and you, personally, will grow by making connections with others.”

Ryan hopes this new award will inspire similar work among Academic Division staff and Medical Center team members.

“We couldn’t be more excited to announce the Hoos Building Bridges Award,” said John Lew, Human Resources’ assistant vice president of talent recruitment. “This unique award doesn’t just recognize an employee who goes above and beyond. It highlights new collaborations that are redefining how we work, grow and develop as an institution.

“These collaborations are particularly special because President Ryan asks everyone in the UVA community to reach outside or their comfort zones and build valuable relationships,” Lew said. “Thousands of staff and team members play an important role in achieving this task and UVA HR is happy to recognize those individuals.”