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EHS Recognition Program

The Recognition Program, an Institute-wide program sponsored by Human Resources, provides opportunities to recognize employees for exceptional contributions and achievements. This program, supported by the Environment, Health, and Safety Office, was designed to highlight excellence by acknowledging individuals and teams for work that goes above and beyond expectations for the betterment of the department, Institute, and community.

There are two ways to recognize and award employees within EHS, as well as colleagues from other departments who demonstrate excellence.

Please take a few minutes to read the award criteria and to then acknowledge the hard work and exceptional achievements of your peers, co-worker, and or colleagues.

Appreciation Awards

Appreciation Awards (a.k.a. “On-The-Spot” or “Spot Awards” ) are presented at the time of achievement. They are intended as informal, on the spot, day-to-day recognition for a job well done. Small gifts or outings are among the awards that are given to the award recipient(s) in appreciation.

The types of contributions that might be recognized through an Appreciation Award are:

  • Staying late to help someone prepare a presentation for the next day.
  • Volunteering to cover for a co-worker who is out sick.
  • Going out of your way to help prevent an accident.
  • Exceeding expectations for a goal or milestone in a long-term collaborative project.

Types of Spot Awards

Spot Award Recipients

Infinite Mile Awards

The Infinite Mile Awards, of which there are five categories, are annual cash awards. These awards are given to individuals or teams, specifically within the EHS, in recognition of their exceptional contributions to health, safety and environmental stewardship at the Institute. The Infinite Mile Awards are intended to acknowledge an exceptional effort on behalf of service, support, and administrative staff. Subcontractors, consultants, outsourced, and temporary employees are not eligible.

The five categories of the Infinite Mile Award are:

Anyone in the Environment, Health, and Safety Office can nominate a colleague from EHS. Employees are also encouraged to recognize co-workers outside of these groups. All Infinite Mile Awards nominations must be submitted to the EHS Recognition Committee. After careful review, the Committee will select the recipients.

NOTE:  Committee Members cannot write/receive nominations while on the EHS Recognition Committee.

Infinite Mile Award Form

* Remember to provide specific details of the nominee’s accomplishments in your write-up!

IMPORTANT: Nominations for the fiscal year 2023 Infinite Mile Awards are due to the Recognition Committee by April 28, 2023.

2023 Infinite Mile Award Recipients

  • Steve Younis – Distinguished Service Award
  • Andy Kalil, Joe MacLeod, Todd Numan, and Matt Ory – Service Team Award
  • Carolyn Colonero and Jeff Goupil – Service Team Award
  • Kim Broberg, Alec Casavant, Kyle Eads, and Steve Monstur- Service Team Award
  • Pat O’Donnell and Michal Sharoni – Service Team Award
  • Suzanne Adams and Mike Dunn – Service Team Award
  • Kim Broberg – Positive Attitude Award

2023 Recognition Committee Members: Nadia Morrison, Co-Chair, Jackie Leahy, Co-Chair, Lindsay Scholl, Todd Numan, Jessica Van, Mitch Galanek, and Michal Sharoni

EHS DLCI Excellence Awards

The EHS Office, supported by the Institute, recognizes Department, Lab, Center or Institute (DLCIs) for their excellent performance in EHS Training and Level II Inspection metrics annually with the EHS Excellence Awards. DLCIs are evaluated and categorized based on the number of trainees in a DLCI: small (1-50), medium (51-250), and large (greater than or equal 251). To be considered for the award, training for core EHS courses and inspection metrics for the entire DLCI must be above 90% for the previous year. The award is given to the highest performing DLCI for each category.

2022 Recipients

  • Department of Biological Engineering
  • Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
  • Department of Mathematics

MIT Excellence Awards + Collier Medal

The MIT Excellence Awards + Collier Medal acknowledges the extraordinary efforts made by members of our community toward fulfilling the goals, values, and mission of the Institute.

2023 MIT Excellence Award – Sustaining MIT

recipients receiving award standing in front of a presentation screen
Provost Cynthia Barnhart, Lu Zhong, Rosario (Sal) Silvestri, Ryan Samz, Dave Pavone, Mitch Galanek, Normand Desrochers III, Mike DeBerio, and John Collins

Tip Box Recycling Team

Environment, Health, and Safety Office | Department of Campus Services and Stewardship

  • John R. Collins, Project Technician
  • Michael A. DeBerio, Project Technician
  • Normand J. Desrochers III, Technician B
  • Mitchell S. Galanek, Director
  • David M. Pavone, Project Technician
  • Ryan Samz, RPP Officer
  • Rosario Silvestri, Project Technician
  • Lu Zhong, Senior Application and Database Developer

Past recipients of the MIT Excellence Awards

  • 2021 Personal Protective Equipment Team: EHS recipients – Jim Doughty, Tolga Durak, Nadia Morrison, and Nick Paquin – Serving the Client
  • 2017 Rosa Liberman (EHS Coordinator) – Serving the Client, William McCarthy – Innovative Solutions
  • 2016 Jessica Van – Serving the Client
  • 2013 Regulated Medical Waste Management Team: Michael DeBerio, Robert Farley, John Fucillo, Mitch Galanek, Mark Linehan, Michele Miele, Beth Rice, Rosario Silvestri, Ronald Stoute & Christopher Tavares – Serving the Client
  • 2012 Commuter Connections Team: Robynn Cruz, Ruth Davis, Larry Brutti, Zhanna Davidovitz – Greening MIT
  • 2011 Louis DiBerardinis – Bringing Out the Best
  • 2006 Working Group Recycling Committee – Creating Connections

Additional Information

There are two ways to recognize and award employees within EHS, as well as colleagues from other departments who demonstrate excellence.

Please take a few minutes to read the award criteria and to then acknowledge the hard work and exceptional achievements of your peers, co-worker, and or colleagues.

Appreciation Awards

Appreciation Awards (a.k.a. “On-The-Spot” or “Spot Awards” ) are presented at the time of achievement. They are intended as informal, on the spot, day-to-day recognition for a job well done. Small gifts or outings are among the awards that are given to the award recipient(s) in appreciation.

The types of contributions that might be recognized through an Appreciation Award are:

  • Staying late to help someone prepare a presentation for the next day.
  • Volunteering to cover for a co-worker who is out sick.
  • Going out of your way to help prevent an accident.
  • Exceeding expectations for a goal or milestone in a long-term collaborative project.

Types of Spot Awards

Spot Award Recipients

Infinite Mile Awards

The Infinite Mile Awards, of which there are five categories, are annual cash awards. These awards are given to individuals or teams, specifically within the EHS, in recognition of their exceptional contributions to health, safety and environmental stewardship at the Institute. The Infinite Mile Awards are intended to acknowledge an exceptional effort on behalf of service, support, and administrative staff. Subcontractors, consultants, outsourced, and temporary employees are not eligible.

The five categories of the Infinite Mile Award are:

Anyone in the Environment, Health, and Safety Office can nominate a colleague from EHS. Employees are also encouraged to recognize co-workers outside of these groups. All Infinite Mile Awards nominations must be submitted to the EHS Recognition Committee. After careful review, the Committee will select the recipients.

NOTE:  Committee Members cannot write/receive nominations while on the EHS Recognition Committee.

Infinite Mile Award Form

* Remember to provide specific details of the nominee’s accomplishments in your write-up!

IMPORTANT: Nominations for the fiscal year 2023 Infinite Mile Awards are due to the Recognition Committee by April 28, 2023.

2023 Infinite Mile Award Recipients

  • Steve Younis – Distinguished Service Award
  • Andy Kalil, Joe MacLeod, Todd Numan, and Matt Ory – Service Team Award
  • Carolyn Colonero and Jeff Goupil – Service Team Award
  • Kim Broberg, Alec Casavant, Kyle Eads, and Steve Monstur- Service Team Award
  • Pat O’Donnell and Michal Sharoni – Service Team Award
  • Suzanne Adams and Mike Dunn – Service Team Award
  • Kim Broberg – Positive Attitude Award

2023 Recognition Committee Members: Nadia Morrison, Co-Chair, Jackie Leahy, Co-Chair, Lindsay Scholl, Todd Numan, Jessica Van, Mitch Galanek, and Michal Sharoni

EHS DLCI Excellence Awards

The EHS Office, supported by the Institute, recognizes Department, Lab, Center or Institute (DLCIs) for their excellent performance in EHS Training and Level II Inspection metrics annually with the EHS Excellence Awards. DLCIs are evaluated and categorized based on the number of trainees in a DLCI: small (1-50), medium (51-250), and large (greater than or equal 251). To be considered for the award, training for core EHS courses and inspection metrics for the entire DLCI must be above 90% for the previous year. The award is given to the highest performing DLCI for each category.

2022 Recipients

  • Department of Biological Engineering
  • Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
  • Department of Mathematics

MIT Excellence Awards + Collier Medal

The MIT Excellence Awards + Collier Medal acknowledges the extraordinary efforts made by members of our community toward fulfilling the goals, values, and mission of the Institute.

2023 MIT Excellence Award – Sustaining MIT

recipients receiving award standing in front of a presentation screen
Provost Cynthia Barnhart, Lu Zhong, Rosario (Sal) Silvestri, Ryan Samz, Dave Pavone, Mitch Galanek, Normand Desrochers III, Mike DeBerio, and John Collins

Tip Box Recycling Team

Environment, Health, and Safety Office | Department of Campus Services and Stewardship

  • John R. Collins, Project Technician
  • Michael A. DeBerio, Project Technician
  • Normand J. Desrochers III, Technician B
  • Mitchell S. Galanek, Director
  • David M. Pavone, Project Technician
  • Ryan Samz, RPP Officer
  • Rosario Silvestri, Project Technician
  • Lu Zhong, Senior Application and Database Developer

Past recipients of the MIT Excellence Awards

  • 2021 Personal Protective Equipment Team: EHS recipients – Jim Doughty, Tolga Durak, Nadia Morrison, and Nick Paquin – Serving the Client
  • 2017 Rosa Liberman (EHS Coordinator) – Serving the Client, William McCarthy – Innovative Solutions
  • 2016 Jessica Van – Serving the Client
  • 2013 Regulated Medical Waste Management Team: Michael DeBerio, Robert Farley, John Fucillo, Mitch Galanek, Mark Linehan, Michele Miele, Beth Rice, Rosario Silvestri, Ronald Stoute & Christopher Tavares – Serving the Client
  • 2012 Commuter Connections Team: Robynn Cruz, Ruth Davis, Larry Brutti, Zhanna Davidovitz – Greening MIT
  • 2011 Louis DiBerardinis – Bringing Out the Best
  • 2006 Working Group Recycling Committee – Creating Connections

Additional Information