Staff Appreciation Week Celebrates Texas A&M Staff
The fifth Staff Appreciation Week at Texas A&M, held the week of March 23, was a big success, according to participants and the staff of the university’s Division of Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness, which coordinated the week’s activities.
“I want to commend the 2018 Staff Appreciation Week Committee for planning and executing this week of events. These staff volunteered their time over the past year so that other staff could be recognized and honored with a week of special events,” said Dr. Barbara Abercrombie, vice president for human resources and organizational effectiveness at Texas A&M.
Pamela Praesel, communications coordinator with the division, noted five new or improved activities:
- Discounts for Texas A&M staff offered through a partnership between Texas A&M and the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce. Numerous local merchants offered discounts on goods and services, and Chamber members donated thousands of dollars in prizes for SAW.
- A full day of staff development presentations given by a diverse group of speakers who focused on the theme of “Engage, Encourage and Empower.”
- Staff Photo day, when professional photographers stationed at iconic locations across campus were available to take photos of more than 3,000 staff and family members, was moved to Saturday.
- Texas A&M Softball and Baseball moved their A&M Faculty/Staff Appreciation Days to Staff Appreciation Week.
- “Fitness Friday,” when staff members could work out at the campus Rec Center, was added following the annual Maroon & White Wellness Walk through campus.
- Participants in unit-specific activities were encouraged to post photos across social media using the hashtag #SAW2018. Two departments—Texas A&M Institute of Biosciences & Technology-Houston and Texas A&M Engineering Communications—were picked in a random drawing of those who participated to receive a monetary grant to support future Staff Appreciation Week activities for their units.
“Staff Appreciation Week affords the University community a special opportunity to demonstrate gratitude for staff members’ countless daily contributions as well as celebrate their special achievements. It is important for our staff to know that their efforts do not go unnoticed. This week is just one way that we show them that they are genuinely appreciated, respected, and valued,” said Mary Schubert, an HR director at Texas A&M.
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Media contact: Pamela Praesel, 979-845-6287, [email protected].
Media contact: Pamela Praesel, 979-845-6287, [email protected].