December 6, 2011
UW inaugurates award to honor achievements of retirees
The university is inaugurating a new, major award this year, recognizing the accomplishments of UW retirees in service to the community.
Nominations for the first UW Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award are open now through January 31, 2012. Contact Pat Dougherty, director retiree relations, patd@uw.edu, 206-543-8600, for details. Nomination information for this years award is not yet available online.
The creation of this honor has been a joint effort of the UW and the UW Retirement Association.
“Retirees are an important part of the university community,” said Ed Perrin, president of the UWRA. “We know that many retirees continue to be involved in the community, whether in their professional expertise or in totally different ways. They havent stopped contributing just because they passed a milestone known as retirement.
“Recognizing these individuals, who continue to be ambassadors for the university, is entirely appropriate. Moreover, these extraordinary individuals serve as role models for what is possible when the workday routine no longer consumes so much time and effort.”
The individual who is selected will be recognized, along with other honorees, at the Awards of Excellence event in June.
“Our goal is to honor retirees who have made local, regional, national or even international contributions,” says Dougherty. “The award celebrates both the quality of service and impact of that service.”
For purposes of the award, a retiree is defined as someone who is fully retired as a former employee, faculty or staff, and who served the required number of years of employment to be eligible for official UW retirement and then officially retired. Retirees who have been re-employed part-time after retirement are not eligible.
“We are pleased to work with the UWRA to create this award,” said Connie Kravas, vice president for university advancement. “It is one way of thanking people who have contributed so much to this institution and whose contributions continue to make the university such an important asset for our community.”
The UWRA, founded in 1975, advances the interests of retired faculty and staff, offers prospective and current members retirement planning and transitions programs and promotes new and continuing connections among its members through communication and a variety of educational and social opportunities. The UWRA encourages continued contributions to the University community. For more information, contact UWRA, 206-543-8600.
