With this year’s theme “One World. One Team.”, the University of Houston-Downtown’s annual Staff Awards Ceremony brought together staff and university leaders to celebrate the employees whose dedication, service, and achievements advance the institution’s mission, strategic goals, and commitment to student success. Organized by Human Resources, the event recognized both long-term service and outstanding accomplishments, highlighting the vital role staff members play in strengthening the UHD community.
A special highlight of the ceremony was the Service Longevity Awards, which recognize employees who have reached milestones of five or more years of service. During this portion of the program, attendees celebrated Hossein Shahrokhi, Associate Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, who achieved an extraordinary 45 years of service, a first in UHD’s history.
The ceremony also highlighted recipients of the Staff Impact Awards, recognizing excellence in areas that support UHD’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities. This year’s honorees included Michaela Milligan (Rookie of the Year), the TTLC Canvas Support Team (Teamwork Award), Ikea Jernigan (Goes the Extra Mile), Cecealia Burns (Student Success Award), and Rebecca Hamilton (Leadership Award).
The event concluded with the presentation of the President’s Staff Excellence Award, UHD’s highest staff honor, recognizing an employee who consistently demonstrates exceptional service, innovation, collaboration, and commitment to the university’s core values. Interim President Deborah Bordelon announced Tremaine Kwasikpui, Director of Student Leadership and Involvement, as this year’s recipient. In her remarks, Dr. Bordelon praised Kwasikpui’s “unique ability to transform ordinary events into value-added experiences” and highlighted his significant contributions to fostering a more engaged campus community.
Overall, the Staff Awards Ceremony celebrated excellence, commitment, and service while reinforcing UHD’s appreciation for the dedicated staff members whose contributions help transform the university and support the success of its students, faculty, and broader community.