The President’s Staff Recognition Awards honour York University staff who demonstrate exceptional service, leadership, creativity, and commitment to York’s mission. These awards celebrate colleagues whose achievements contribute to student success, academic excellence, and inclusive communities and strengthen York’s impact locally and globally.
Nominations open annually in January.
If you have a colleague who has gone the extra mile to support, guide and inspire others, nominating them is a wonderful way to say thank you and contribute to a culture of appreciation at York University."
— Interim President & Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps
Nominations for the 2025 President's Staff Recognition Awards are openNomination applications will be accepted between Thursday, January 8, 2026 and Thursday, February 19, 2026. Please visit each award page to determine which category is best suited for the community member you wish to nominate. |
Award Categories
| Award | Description |
|---|---|
| The Deborah Hobson York Citizenship Award | The Deborah Hobson York Citizenship Award is awarded to an individual who emulates Vice- President Hobson’s energetic commitment to York students and boundless enthusiasm for the York community. Nominees for this award embody the York spirit, and use their creativity and imagination in support of the student community at York. |
| The Excellence in Decolonization, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI) Award | The award recognizes outstanding achievement in practice, events, policy, programs, or other activities that foster equitable, sustainable and measurable change on campus, with an intersectional social justice lens, especially for equity-deserving groups (e.g. women, visible/racialized minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+). The Award recognizes ongoing work or an outstanding accomplishment at a point in time. |
| The Gary Brewer Emerging Leader Award | The award recognizes and encourages early-career professionals who have demonstrated significant promise of leadership in their career. The Award recognizes a staff member who has shown tremendous promise for assuming a leadership role at the University, is known for their innovative and meaningful contributions to the effectiveness of their unit and has significantly contributed to the University’s commitment to excellence. |
| The Phyllis Clark Campus Service Award | The award recognizes a York employee who has made outstanding contributions to the University in terms of efficiency, cleanliness, safety, security or other campus/plant services. |
| The President’s Leadership Award | The President’s Leadership Award recognizes excellence in service to York University. Individuals nominated for this award perform at a level that inspires professionalism, creativity and innovation across the University community |
| Ronald Kent Medal | The award’s namesake, Ronald Kent, had a unique personal commitment to the University showcased through years of dedicated service. His sincerity and enthusiasm inspired colleagues across the University. He was considered a true ambassador for York University. |
| The Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence | The Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence recognizes excellence in service and support to students, faculty, staff and/or other service users. One award will be given annually. |
| Voice of York | This award is given to front-line staff members who are the first contact with a visitor or community member and regularly interact with the York community. The quality of responsiveness and the genuine desire to assist in the most difficult or sensitive situations is essential to York’s reputation. |