Vanderbilt University is honoring all employees who reached a service milestone anniversary during calendar year 2021.
“Recognizing the service milestones of our extraordinary staff members is one way that we celebrate the empowering culture of belonging that we have here at Vanderbilt,” Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. “Through their continuous years of service, these staff members have demonstrated a strong commitment to our educational mission and leadership in their respective fields. Their work—on a daily basis and over time—is integral to making Vanderbilt the exceptional place to which we all come to work, learn and grow as individuals and as a community.”
The university currently recognizes staff members’ years of service at five-year increments. The award is based on two criteria: an employee’s eligibility status and their service date.
More than 800 honorees marked service milestones in 2021.
View the 2021 Service Award recipients.
“Our staff members’ dedication to Vanderbilt University’s mission is one that inspires not only the Vanderbilt community but our greater Nashville community,” said Eric Kopstain, vice chancellor for administration. “It’s truly humbling the years of service our staff members dedicate to us, and it’s important to recognize and express our appreciation for those years. Thank you to those who celebrated milestone anniversaries this past year.”
Vanderbilt has traditionally recognized employees who were marking significant work anniversaries (20 years and above) with a Service Awards Ceremony. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university will not hold an in-person celebration this year.
Winners of the Commodore Award, the university’s highest staff honor, and the Diversity Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate exemplary leadership that manifests the ideals of equity, diversity and inclusion into practical action within the university community, will be announced at the 2022 Spring Staff Assembly.
There have been changes in this years’ Service Award selections, with some gifts being phased out and a shift toward an employee choice program.
Employees reaching service milestone anniversaries in 2021 are eligible for the following appreciation gifts from the university:
- 5 years – Vanderbilt University photo frame
- 10 years – Vanderbilt University “V” pin
- 15 years – Vanderbilt University watch
- 20 years – Employee choice of an item from a curated catalog of merchandise
- 25 years – Vanderbilt University rocking chair
- 30+ years – Employee choice of an item from a curated catalog of merchandise
As in previous years, departmental contacts will be notified of the arrival of awards and must set up an appointment to retrieve gift items from the Baker Building. They are responsible for the distribution to the recipients.
All those marking a 25-year service anniversary in 2021 should receive an email that contains the chair order form with instructions. Employees will be responsible for returning this form. Processing and delivery of the chair to the employee’s designated address can take up to eight weeks.
All those marking 20 and 30+ years of service should receive a catalog from Royal Recognition with ordering instructions. Gift selections could take up to two weeks for processing and delivery.