Jumbo Appreciation Awards

The Jumbo Awards recognize extraordinary contributions by our staff.

All staff members in the School of Arts and Sciences (including SMFA at Tufts), the School of Engineering, and the AS&E Shared Divisions (including Student Affairs, Student Services, Undergraduate Education, Student Diversity and Inclusion, Admissions, and Tisch Library) are eligible for this award. Nominations can be made by anyone – colleagues, faculty, managers, and students.

Categories to nominate staff include:

  • Team Player – congratulates someone for always moving the group forward
  • Above and Beyond – recognizes a colleague who goes the extra mile
  • Leader of the Herd – thanks a manager or colleague for expert guidance
  • Jumbo Ideas – rewards a colleague who thinks outside the box and finds creative solutions
  • **New for 2024** Lunch on Us Team Award – recognizes staff teams/groups achieving a milestone, completing a major project, maintaining positive attitudes during a challenging time, and/or managing multiple deliverables in a limited time

One winner will be selected monthly form A&S/SMFA departments, one winner will be selected bi-monthly from SOE, and one winner will be selected monthly from AS&E Shared Divisions.

Nomination Process: Submissions via the online nomination form will be accepted on a rolling basis. Selection committees comprised of representatives from A&S, SOE, and the Shared Divisions will select the winners for their respective schools/divisions.

Award: Winners will receive an elephant figurine as well as a bonus day (i.e. an extra vacation day) to recognize their special contributions to our school.

The bonus day should be used by June 30, the end of the fiscal year when it was awarded. Winners in the months of April, May, and June can either use their day or roll it over for use the following fiscal year. Use and approval of bonus days follow all the same processes as vacation days.

AS&E Winners:

January/February 2024:

Brandon Stafford, Mechanical Engineering
Category: Above & Beyond

SoE Staff Life Committee
Category: Lunch on Us

briana Sevigny, Student Life (Community Standards)
Category: Leader of the Herd

Residential Life and Learning Team
Category: Lunch on Us

John Stark, Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies
Category: Jumbo Ideas

February 2022:

Donna Cirelli, Computer Science
Category: Above & Beyond

Laura McDonald, Tufts University Art Galleries
Category: Leader of the Herd

David Watts, Residential Life and Learning 
Category: Team Player

May 2021:

Elissa Milto, Center for Engineering Education and Outreach
Category: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice

Felicia Astorino, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Category: Jumbo Ideas

Ilene Coddon, Financial Aid
Category: Team Player

April 2021:

Jaouad Elkamouss, Philosophy Department
Category: Above and Beyond

Tim Jordon, Residential Life and Learning
Category: Above and Beyond

March 2021:

Laura Sacco, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Category: Above and Beyond