Spirit of BG Award

Congratulations to DeVona Smith from Thompson Scholarship Programs. She is the winner of the April Spirit of BG Award and was nominated by Mary Kay Inkrott Hiser. Here’s a bit of what was said about DeVona:

"I would like to recognize DeVona Smith for the April "Spirit of BG" Award for her leadership in planning our Thompson End of the Year Celebration, recognizing our graduates and award winners. This is our second year hosting this event, and DeVona did an outstanding job leading a committee to organize the event. This year's turnout of scholars and family/guests increased significantly from the year before, and a number of families shared how meaningful the event was. It was a beautiful ceremony to highlight our amazing students, and DeVona even added a special touch by inviting an acapella group to perform at the event. Overall, the event helped showcase the "Best of BG", which I believe includes our amazing program, scholars, and staff. It was a great testament to "Telling Our Story".Beyond DeVona's leadership in planning this event, I must also quickly highlight the impact she makes as a scholarship advisor. DeVona builds a strong rapport with her scholars; many share how supportive she is, how she truly cares, and how she provides encouragement and good advice. One student stated, “I’ve never had an advisor that seemed to care more about my well-being as a person.” DeVona focuses on the individual and their personal growth and development. I love how she helps students overcome challenges and realize that failure is not a reflection of who they are or their self-worth. DeVona brings that same wisdom and guidance to our team and has led very thoughtful and intentional team activities."

Thanks for your hard work, DeVona!

Criteria and Eligibility

Any current full-time or part-time administrative staff member who is employed at BGSU or Firelands is eligible for the award.

The Administrative Staff Council wants to recognize, on a monthly basis, administrative staff employees who are caught showing "The Spirit of BG" as defined by any of the core values of BGSU.  The Core Values to which the University adheres include:

• Intellectual and personal growth
• Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurism
• Diversity and inclusion
• Collaboration with each other and our partners
• Excellence in all we do

Presentation and Selection Information

Awards are given monthly during the academic year.  The award consists of a cash award of $75, congratulations from colleagues and friends and a certificate of appreciation.

Winners are announced approximately two weeks after deadline, the end of each month.

Nomination Procedures

If you are a member of the University community (faculty, staff, student) you may nominate an administrative staff employee for "The Spirit of BG Award". Complete this nomination form, providing a short summary as to why you feel this person is deserving of this award.  

Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on the last day of the month, to be considered for that month's recognition. For example, nominate by Aug. 31 for the August Spirit of BG Award.