Caltech Honors Staff Members for Service, Excellence, and Dedication

Caltech honored more than 200 staff members—including two with 55 years of service and one with 50 years—at the 68th annual Staff Service & Impact Awards ceremony, held on June 8 in Beckman Auditorium.

Julia McCallin, associate vice president for human resources and CHRO, served as emcee for the event, which honored Caltech's staff members for their contributions to the advancement of the Institute's research and education mission. For the first time since before the COVID pandemic, the event welcomed honorees as well as supporters to Beckman Auditorium to participate in the ceremony in person.

"The work you do is why we're an amazing institution," McCallin told the hundreds of staff members and supporters gathered in the auditorium. "I truly believe that staff is the secret sauce at Caltech."

The event celebrated staff members who have served on campus for 10 to 55 years and also included the announcement of two Institute awards—one honoring individual achievement and another recognizing the impact of a team—and a staff appreciation award from ASCIT.

This year, Nora Oshima, grants and building manager in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, received the Thomas W. Schmitt Annual Staff Prize, which recognizes staff members whose contributions "embody the values and spirit that enable the Institute to achieve excellence in research and education."

Oshima, who joined Caltech in 2001, was recognized for her dedication and professionalism, which prompted one nominator to call her both "relentlessly helpful" and "indispensable."

The Student-Faculty Programs Office won the Team Impact Award, which recognizes "teams that make significant contributions to the work and mission of the Institute," and demonstrate work that has impacted and supported its research or education programs.

The office was honored for its work on the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) and WAVE Fellowships programs, which provide students with the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of experienced mentors working at the frontiers of their fields.

The ASCIT Staff Appreciation Award, first awarded at the ceremony in 2021, recognizes exceptional contributions of Caltech staff members on behalf of the undergraduate community. This year, ASCIT honored Elvira Serpa, who recently retired from her position on the kitchen serving staff; Kelli Blake, head coach of men's and women's cross country and track and field; and Effie Sanchez, housing custodial assistant.

During the ceremony, McCallin called to the stage employees celebrating anniversaries from 10 to 55 years at Caltech, reserving special recognition for Alan Cummings, senior research scientist at the Space Radiation Laboratory; Patricia Anderson, administrative assistant for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; and Robert Logan, senior director of IMSS. Cummings was honored for 50 years of service to Caltech; Anderson and Logan were each recognized for 55 years of service.

Closing out the event, President Thomas Rosenbaum lauded the honorees, saying, "You, as staff, are the ones who glue this place together, who make sure that not only do we run but we connect, that we build upon our individual strengths and create a community that is so much greater. So, thank you for everything you do—it makes a huge difference."

A recording of the event is online.

—Jon Nalick