Staff Recognition

The STAR Awards (Staff That Are Remarkable) are a time-honored tradition within the UWM Division of Student Affairs, celebrating professional staff who have made a meaningful impact on both students and colleagues. These awards recognize outstanding contributions at all levels of the organization, as well as exceptional initiatives and efforts, reinforcing our divisional values and serving as a powerful motivator for continued excellence.

STAR Award Categories

Hidden Gems

Recognizes individual(s), who participate in the success of a unit, department, or Division, but their contributions are often behind the scenes, unnoticed, or unrecognized by others.

2025 Winners
Tim Biever – Student Union
Karate Zubek – Student Health and Wellness Center
Kira Hartley – Children’s Learning Center 

Goes the Extra Mile

Recognize an outstanding employee that consistently goes above and beyond for their department/unit, Division of Student Affairs, and/or UWM.

2025 Winners
Hannah Mauch – Student Involvement

Inspires Others

Recognizes an outstanding employee whose positive example and ability to inspire others has made lasting impacts on their department, division, students, and UWM. 

2025 Winner
Andy Reis – Student Union

Student Advocate

Recognize someone who continuously advocates for students.

2025 Winner
Rachel Kubczak – Student Parent Success
MacKenzie Ringle – Student Health and Wellness Center 

It Takes a Village

Program, Service, or Initiative – Recognize groups of individuals who have worked together to achieve a particular success. If individuals from outside the division were involved in a Student Affairs team effort, please do not hesitate to name these team members so that they may be recognized.

2025 Winners
SHAW Health Promotion and Advocacy – Lori Bowoky, Susan Cushman, Nicole Deacon, Sam Gobert, Crysta Jarczynski, MacKenzie Ringle, Karate Zubek

Past Winners

2024
  • Hidden Gems
    • SHAW Nursing Staff -​Karen Krueger, Jennifer Preder, ​Pataue Lee, Amanda Hanson, ​Toska Hodge, Yee Xiong
    • Hannah Murphy – University Recreation 
  • Goes the Extra Mile
    • Amanda Elliott – Union Marketing
    • Oscar Gonzalez – University Housing 
  • Inspires Others
    • Dominique (Domo) Smith – Dean of Students
  • Student Advocate
    • Ariana Myers – LGBTQ+ Resource Center
  • It Takes a Village
    • Curricular Approach Working Group – Lori Bokowy, Chelsey Tennis, Kari Dawson, Kacie Otto, Ariel Milton-kern, Susan Cushman, Andrew Hirsh, Sheila Keaton, Jeb Ebben, Peter Baran, Laura Kucharski, Shawn Achenbach, Jessica Wener
2023
  • Team Player
    • Tima Guled (Dean of Students)
  • Hidden Gems
    • Natalie Benavides (Student Involvement)
    • Ty Stahl (University Housing)Jane Ramsden (SHAW)
  • Goes the Extra Mile
    • James “Groovy” Cocroft (Military and Veterans Resource Center (MAVRC))
    • Alexandria Dorshorst (Dean of Students)
  • Student Advocate
    • Dominique (Domo) Smith (Dean of Students)
  • It Takes a Village
    • Assessment Committee: Andrew Thimmesch, Stephanie Coryell, Lori Bokowy, Bridget Fish, Dominique Smith, Krystal McCain, Sarah Edmondson, Jess Wener (grad)
2022
  • Team Player
    • Andy Reis (Student Union)
  • Hidden Gems
    • Jane Ramsden (SHAW)
    • Chelsea Pedler (Student Union)
    • Joe Fransee (Technology Services)
  • Goes the Extra Mile
    • Anny Gonzalez (Retail Services)
    • Claire Faroute (Athletics)
    • Becca Grassl (Student Union)
  • Inspires Others
    • Jacob Richard Young (Student Union)
  • Student Advocate
    • Mike Schmit (Student Union)
  • It Takes a Village
    • Lamont Rodgers, Vince Lockhart, and Ken Nielsen from University Housing
    • Medical Staff of the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHAW)
2019
  • Academic Staff member of the Year
    • Enrollment Management: Cindy Reindl (Financial Aid)
    • Student Affairs: Jennifer Esslestrom (Children’s Learning Center)
  • University Staff
    • Enrollment Management: Katie Peterson and Jamie Kiefer (Registrar)
    • Student Affairs: J. Dietenberger (SAITS)
  • New Academic Staff
    • Enrollment Management: Natalie Chin (Registrar)
    • Student Affairs: Scott Hartman (Union)
  • New University Staff
    • Enrollment Management: Emily Sebastian (Undergraduate Admissions)
    • Student Affairs: Ashley Steltenpohl (Athletics)
  • Graduate Assistant of the Year
    • Enrollment Management: Sammi Schams (Undergraduate Admissions)
    • Student Affairs: Amanda Gallo (Student Union)
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Small)
    • Enrollment Management: National Career Development Day (Career Planning and Resource Center) — Olivia Cross & the CPaRC Staff
    • Student Affairs: Spring Break Trips (University Recreation) – Alexis Lyons, Nicholas Orlowski, Ben Kmecheck, Natassja Sook, Genevieve Harper, Chris Jones, AJ Heil
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Large)
    • Enrollment Management: Student Scholarship Portal (Financial Aid) – Maria Solis, Jamie Kovtun, Coleen Dunlap, Colleen Johnson, Karen Klips
    • Student Affairs: Coldpocalypse Programming (University Housing) – Rachael Amick, Markie Hopins, Joel Bushman, Zach Cramer, Tom Garcia, Haley Zangl
  • Student Advocate
    • Enrollment Management: Student Advocate (Financial Aid)
    • Student Affairs: Haley Zangl (University Housing)
  • Stellar Student Affairs/Enrollment Management Partner
    • Enrollment Management: Two-year school consolidation partners – Nicolette Parada, Tima Guled, Sue Kalinka, Courtney O’Connell, Dan Geddes, Liz Schielke, Dan Schindler, Rachel Stern
    • Student Affairs: Purchasing – James Eisenhauer, Kathy Kercheck, Pam Loignon, Donna Lumsden, Kithara Vogel
  • Supervisor of the Year
    • Enrollment Management: Kathleen Peterburs (Financial Aid)
    • Student Affairs: Cathy Rossi (Athletics)
  • Rising S.T.A.R.
    • Enrollment Management: Ariel Milton-Kern (Student Success Center)
    • Student Affairs: Adam Schemm (Athletics)
2018
  • Academic Staff Member of the Year
    • Ashleigh Zarling, Undergraduate Admissions
  • University Staff Member of the Year
    • Ryan McNallie, Student Affairs IT Services
    • Angie Reynolds, Student Life
  • Outstanding New Academic Staff
    • Mariana Sanabria, Undergraduate Admissions
  • Outstanding New University Staff
    • Sam Sirna, Student Union
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Large)
    • Ignite — Kirstin DeMartino, Student Involvement
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Small)
    • Fostering Success at UWM — Tawney Latona, Undergraduate Admissions
  • Student Advocate Award
    • Food Center and Pantry group
  • Stellar Student Affairs Partner
    • Victoria Pryor, Black Cultural Center
  • Supervisor of the Year
    • Sarah Perkins Simmons, Registrar
    • Chelsea Pedler, Student Union
  • Super S.T.A.R. Award
    • Mai Yer Yang, Inclusive Excellence Center
  • Rising S.T.A.R.
    • Beth Lobner, University Housing
  • Shining S.T.A.R.
    • Krystle Anderson, SA/EM Financial Services
2017
  • Academic Staff Member of the Year
    • Claudia Guzman, Student Involvement
  • University Staff Member of the Year
    • J. Dietenberger, Student Affairs IT Services
  • Graduate Student of the Year
    • Amy Siever, Undergraduate Admissions
  • Outstanding New Academic Staff
    • Maria Azarian, Undergraduate Admissions
  • Outstanding New University Staff
    • Margaret Peroutka, Undergraduate Admissions
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Large)
    • Ed Psych Leadership Course:
      • Josh Maxwell, University Housing
      • Brennan O’Lena, Student Success Center
      • Colin Daly, Student Success Center
      • Amy Danielson, Undergraduate Admissions
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Small)
    • MKE Scholars:
      • Kay Eilers, Student Success Center
      • Warren Scherer, Inclusive Excellence Center
      • Ariel Milton, Student Success Center
  • Stellar Student Affairs Partner
    • Dr. Casey O’Brien, Women’s & Gender Studies
  • Supervisor of the Year
    • Casey Calhoun, Financial Aid
  • Super S.T.A.R. Award
    • Eric Jessup-Anger, Student Involvement
  • Shining S.T.A.R.
    • Katie Miota, Undergraduate Admissions
2016
  • Academic Staff Member of the Year
    • Colin Daly, Student Success Center
  • University Staff Member of the Year
    • Lynn Gransee, Career Planning & Resource Center
  • Graduate Student of the Year
    • Hideaki Noguchi, Student Involvement
  • Outstanding New Academic Staff
    • Kelsey Stockton, Student Success Center & Amy Danielson, Undergraduate Admissions
  • Outstanding New University Staff
    • Lorraine King-Marrari, Student Affairs HR
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Large)
    • First Generation Week:
      • Warren Scherer, Inclusive Excellence Center
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Small)
    • Sociocultural Field Trips:
      • Claudia Guzman, Student Involvement
  • Stellar Student Affairs Partner
    • Dr. Rob Smith, Cultures and Communities
  • Supervisor of the Year
    • Beth Lobner, University Housing
  • Super S.T.A.R. Award
    • Lauren Lessac, Career Planning & Resource Center
2015
  • Academic Staff Member of the Year
    • Jenny Elsner-Miller, Undergraduate Admissions
  • University Staff Member of the Year
    • Jennee Schansberg, Union Event Services
  • Graduate Student of the Year
    • Sam Glazer, Student Success Center
  • Outstanding New Academic Staff
    • Kay Eilers, Student Success Center
  • Outstanding New University Staff
    • Yvette Alicea-Reed, Student Affairs HR
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Large)
    • Mission Possible:
      • Lauren Lessac, Career Planning & Resource Center
      • Nicole Heinen, Panther Academic Support Services
      • Brian Hinshaw, Registrar
      • Kay Eilers, Student Success Center
      • Colin Daly, Student Success Center
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Small)
    • LeadHer:
      • Rachel Leih, Student Association Professional Staff
      • Monique Liston, Women’s Resource Center
  • Stellar Student Affairs Partner
    • Alejandra Lopez, Lubar School of Business
  • Supervisor of the Year
    • Katie Miota, Undergraduate Admissions
  • Super S.T.A.R. Award
    • Student Affairs Human Resources:
      • Janet Mittelstadt, Yvette Alicea-Reed, Patrick Paczesny
2014
  • Academic Staff Member of the Year
    • Natalie Reinbold, Financial Aid (Life Impact Program)
  • Classified Staff Member of the Year
    • Matthew Powers, Restaurant Operations
  • Graduate Assistant of the Year
    • Danielle Croegaert, Student Involvement
  • Outstanding New Academic Staff
    • Jessica Stein, Student Success Center
  • Outstanding New Classified Staff
    • Thomas Brook, Student Union
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Large)
    • Overnight New Student Orientation
      • Student Success Center, University Housing, Parking & Transit, Student Union
  • Outstanding Program, Service, or Initiative (Small)
    • UWM Brand Day
  • Stellar Student Affairs Partner
    • Bill Keith, English
  • Supervisor of the Year
    • Matt Crouse, University Housing
  • Divisional Values Humility
    • Jennifer Murray, LGBT Resource Center
  • Divisional Values Service
    • Colleen Loding, University Housing
    • Tyler Sonnenberg, University Housing
  • Divisional Values Compassion
    • Paul Dupont, Norris Health Center
  • Divisional Values Learning
    • Keri Duce, Student Success Center
  • Divisional Values Commitment to the Future
    • Claudia Guzmán, Student Involvement