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
This is the fastest and direct option to recognize someone. When considering a non-financial option, please also inform the individual’s supervisor/manager as this can be added to their personnel file.
Submit a thank you on the MIT Recognition Thankspage. Recipients will receive an email alerting them of the recognition posting.
Send direct recognition to colleagues. Staff sending an email thank you can include links for existing health and wellness content, available through MIT Medical, such as: Unwind Anytime (pre-recorded session) or MIT Medical Community Wellness
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:
Presented to an individual who demonstrates an exceptional attitude while exceeding expectations and delivers customer service above and beyond the expected level. Recipients of this award exemplify the values and goals of the Institute and the Environment, Health, and Safety Office.
Presented to an individual who recognizes and seizes the opportunity to provide exemplary customer service in a creative and meaningful way. This individual displays initiative and works effortlessly to accomplish his or her goal while maintaining a positive attitude and high standards in his or her work.
Presented to an individual who consistently maintains an optimistic attitude. This person positively influences colleagues with a professional and friendly demeanor while demonstrating competence and effectiveness, particularly under stressful conditions. This individual serves as a role model to others, demonstrating that although change can be stressful, a positive attitude is a key to success.
This award is for teams and/or individuals who:
Create new ways of accomplishing EHS work through collaborative problem solving; breaking down boundaries and/or creating new relationships to improve Safety Culture.
Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and innovation.
Plan and implement strategies that increase efficiency and are in the best interests of the organization.
Take a proactive and innovative approach toward finding sustainable solutions to institute challenges.
Contributing to a Welcoming and Inclusive Community
This individual or team:
Actively contributes to a welcoming environment where staff feel a sense of belonging.
Brings a lens of equity and inclusion to programs, policies, and practices.
Intentionally seeks others’ opinions and finds ways to incorporate the ideas of others.
Ensures different points of view are considered and is not afraid to change course if needed to support the goal of ensuring community.
Regardless of position, acts as an ally or advocate to advance equity and inclusion in EHS.
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.
* 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 Recognition Committee Members
Nadia Morrison, Co-Chair
Jackie Leahy, Co-Chair
Lindsay Scholl
Todd Numan
Jessica Van
Mitch Galanek
Michal Sharoni
2022 Kim Broberg, Ed Lamere, Chris Sain – Distinguished Service Award; Lindsay Scholl – Service Award; Grace Mlady – Positive Attitude Award; Wei Lee Leong – EHS Innovation Award
2021 Phyllis Carter, Joe MacLeod, Fred McWilliams, EHS Technicians: John Collins, Diane Cormier, Mike DeBerio, Bob Farley, Mark Linehan, Hamid Moazeni, Beth Rice, Rosario Silvestri, Ron Stoute & David Pavone – Distinguished Service Award; Wei Lee Leong, Kyle McGovern, Steve Younis, Lu Zhong, Carolyn Colonero, Jeff Goupil, Brian McAnneny, Matt Wah – Service Award; Dan Alexander – Positive Attitude Award
2020 Mitch Galanek, Nick Paquin, Jessica Van, Jim Doughty – Distinguished Service Award; Mike Dunn, Damon Baptista, Judi Reilly, Laurie Veal – Service Award; Suzanne Adams, Hao Nguyen, Michal Sharoni, Grace Mlady – Positive Attitude Award; EHS ‘Everyday Hand Sanitizer’ Team: Bob Edwards, Alec Casavant, Jackie Leahy, Pat O’Donnell, Jessica Van, Hao Nguyen and Mike Dunn – Distinguished Service Team Award; Lou DiBerardinis, Nadia Morrison – Special Recognition
2019 EHS Information Technology Team – Michael Dunn, Hao Nguyen, Patrick O’Donnell, Jessica Van, and Lu Zhong – Distinguished Service Team Award; Tim Beaulieu, Brendan Ettridge, and Wei Lee Leong – Innovation Team Award
2018 Mike Dunn- Distinguished Service; Judith Reilly, Ryan Toolin, Daniel Alexander – Innovative Solutions; Damon Baptista, Scott McNey, James Doughty, Mary Lindstrom, Michael DeBerio, Mitchell Galanek, Michael Dunn, Phyllis Carter, Andrew Kalil – Mission, Vison, Values Team Award
2017 John Quattrochi – Positive Attitude Award, Iraj Aalaei – Service Award, Mary Lindstrom – Distinguished Service Award, Nadia Morrison – Unsung Hero Award
2016 Brian Smith – Distinguished Service Award; Niamh Kelly – Distinguished Service Award; Ryan Toolin – Service Award; Kathryn Blass – Service Award; Sadie Markewicz – Positive Attitude Award
2015 Marissa Cardwell – Service Award; Fabiolah Hernandez – Positive Attitude Award; Bob Edwards – Distinguished Service Award; Emily Rankin, Joe MacLeod, Niamh Kelly, Bob Edwards, Phyllis Cater – Team Award
2014 Phyllis Carter – Service Award; Claudia Mickelson, John Collins – Positive Attitude Award; Bill McCarthy – Distinguished Service Award
2013 Brian McAnneny – Service Award; Jim Doughty – Distinguished Service Award; Bob Kirby, Michael Yarsky, Kelsey Magnuson, Jackie Leahy – Positive Attitude Award; Bret Dyer, Craig Bryer – Team Award
2012 EHS Infinite Mile Awards Recipients – Hao Nguyen, Jessica Van, Laurie Veal, Mitchell Galanek, Mark Linehan, Fred McWilliams
2011 Lauren Russo – Positive Attitude Award, Martha Adams – Positive Attitude Award, Susan Leite – Service Award; Distinguished Service Award winners: Kathryn Blass, Claudia Mickelson, Hans Richter
2010 Diane Cormier – Distinguished Service Award, Nancy Doherty – Service Award, Lou DiBerardinis – Leadership Award, Niamh Kelly, Bret Dyer, Dan Kallin, Andy Kalil, and Abby Licnikas – Team Award, Bob Edwards & Nadia Morrison – Special Service Award
2009 Barry Mendes (Team Award), Heidi Montanari (Service Award), Jessica Van (Service Award), Niamh Kelly (Positive Attitude Award), Hans Richter (Distinguished Service Award), Dan Kallin (Team Award), Emily Ranken (Team Award),
2008 Angie Birnbaum, Katie Blass, Michael DeBerio, Robert Farley, Melissa Kavlakli, Judi Reilly, Ryan Samz, Rosario Silvestri, and Ron Stoute.
2007 Deying Sun, Emily Ranken, Pamela Greenley
2006 Andrew Kalil, Robert Kirby, Hao Nguyen
2005 Maureen Fitzgerald, Steven Greenlaw, Marilyn Hallock, Rhonda O’Keefe, Beth Rice, Laurie Veal
2003 Justin Adams, William McShea, Seth Seligman
2002 David Barber
2001 Katie Blass, Zhanna Davidovitz, Gerry Fallon, Marilyn Hallock, William McCarthy, Carolyn Stahl, William VanSchalkwyk
EHS DLC Excellence Awards
The EHS Office, supported by the Institute, recognizes Department, Lab or Center (DLCs) for their excellent performance in EHS Training and Level II Inspection metrics annually with the EHS Excellence Awards. DLCs are evaluated and categorized based on the number of trainees in a DLC: 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 DLC must be above 90% for the previous year. The award is given to the highest performing DLC for each category.
2022 Recipients
Department of Biological Engineering
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Department of Mathematics
2021 Recipients
Department of Biological Engineering
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Department of Mathematics
2019 Excellence Awards
Center for Environmental Health and Sciences
Center for Material Science and Engineering
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
2018 Excellence Awards
Biology
Department of Material Science and Engineering
Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
2017 Excellence Awards
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
2016 Excellence Awards
Division of Comparative Medicine
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Nuclear Science and Engineering
Biological Engineering
Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
2015
Excellence Award Recipients: Nuclear Reactor Laboratory
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Department of Chemistry; Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research; Department of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Science
2014
Excellence Award Recipients: Brain and Cognitive Sciences; Biological Engineering
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Chemical Engineering; Division of Comparative Medicine
2013
Excellence Award Recipients: Biology; Center for Biomedical Engineering
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Science
2012
Excellence Award Recipients: Biology; Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
2011
Excellence Award Recipients: Plasma Science and Fusion Center; Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Chemical Engineering; Nuclear Science & Engineering
2009
Excellence Award Recipients: Center for Environmental Health Science; Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Biological Engineering; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
2008
Excellence Award Recipients: Center for Environmental Health Science; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; Microsystems Technology Lab
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Biological Engineering; Clinical Research Center; Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology; Plasma Science and Fusion Center
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.
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
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
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
This is the fastest and direct option to recognize someone. When considering a non-financial option, please also inform the individual’s supervisor/manager as this can be added to their personnel file.
Submit a thank you on the MIT Recognition Thankspage. Recipients will receive an email alerting them of the recognition posting.
Send direct recognition to colleagues. Staff sending an email thank you can include links for existing health and wellness content, available through MIT Medical, such as: Unwind Anytime (pre-recorded session) or MIT Medical Community Wellness
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:
Presented to an individual who demonstrates an exceptional attitude while exceeding expectations and delivers customer service above and beyond the expected level. Recipients of this award exemplify the values and goals of the Institute and the Environment, Health, and Safety Office.
Presented to an individual who recognizes and seizes the opportunity to provide exemplary customer service in a creative and meaningful way. This individual displays initiative and works effortlessly to accomplish his or her goal while maintaining a positive attitude and high standards in his or her work.
Presented to an individual who consistently maintains an optimistic attitude. This person positively influences colleagues with a professional and friendly demeanor while demonstrating competence and effectiveness, particularly under stressful conditions. This individual serves as a role model to others, demonstrating that although change can be stressful, a positive attitude is a key to success.
This award is for teams and/or individuals who:
Create new ways of accomplishing EHS work through collaborative problem solving; breaking down boundaries and/or creating new relationships to improve Safety Culture.
Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and innovation.
Plan and implement strategies that increase efficiency and are in the best interests of the organization.
Take a proactive and innovative approach toward finding sustainable solutions to institute challenges.
Contributing to a Welcoming and Inclusive Community
This individual or team:
Actively contributes to a welcoming environment where staff feel a sense of belonging.
Brings a lens of equity and inclusion to programs, policies, and practices.
Intentionally seeks others’ opinions and finds ways to incorporate the ideas of others.
Ensures different points of view are considered and is not afraid to change course if needed to support the goal of ensuring community.
Regardless of position, acts as an ally or advocate to advance equity and inclusion in EHS.
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.
* 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 Recognition Committee Members
Nadia Morrison, Co-Chair
Jackie Leahy, Co-Chair
Lindsay Scholl
Todd Numan
Jessica Van
Mitch Galanek
Michal Sharoni
2022 Kim Broberg, Ed Lamere, Chris Sain – Distinguished Service Award; Lindsay Scholl – Service Award; Grace Mlady – Positive Attitude Award; Wei Lee Leong – EHS Innovation Award
2021 Phyllis Carter, Joe MacLeod, Fred McWilliams, EHS Technicians: John Collins, Diane Cormier, Mike DeBerio, Bob Farley, Mark Linehan, Hamid Moazeni, Beth Rice, Rosario Silvestri, Ron Stoute & David Pavone – Distinguished Service Award; Wei Lee Leong, Kyle McGovern, Steve Younis, Lu Zhong, Carolyn Colonero, Jeff Goupil, Brian McAnneny, Matt Wah – Service Award; Dan Alexander – Positive Attitude Award
2020 Mitch Galanek, Nick Paquin, Jessica Van, Jim Doughty – Distinguished Service Award; Mike Dunn, Damon Baptista, Judi Reilly, Laurie Veal – Service Award; Suzanne Adams, Hao Nguyen, Michal Sharoni, Grace Mlady – Positive Attitude Award; EHS ‘Everyday Hand Sanitizer’ Team: Bob Edwards, Alec Casavant, Jackie Leahy, Pat O’Donnell, Jessica Van, Hao Nguyen and Mike Dunn – Distinguished Service Team Award; Lou DiBerardinis, Nadia Morrison – Special Recognition
2019 EHS Information Technology Team – Michael Dunn, Hao Nguyen, Patrick O’Donnell, Jessica Van, and Lu Zhong – Distinguished Service Team Award; Tim Beaulieu, Brendan Ettridge, and Wei Lee Leong – Innovation Team Award
2018 Mike Dunn- Distinguished Service; Judith Reilly, Ryan Toolin, Daniel Alexander – Innovative Solutions; Damon Baptista, Scott McNey, James Doughty, Mary Lindstrom, Michael DeBerio, Mitchell Galanek, Michael Dunn, Phyllis Carter, Andrew Kalil – Mission, Vison, Values Team Award
2017 John Quattrochi – Positive Attitude Award, Iraj Aalaei – Service Award, Mary Lindstrom – Distinguished Service Award, Nadia Morrison – Unsung Hero Award
2016 Brian Smith – Distinguished Service Award; Niamh Kelly – Distinguished Service Award; Ryan Toolin – Service Award; Kathryn Blass – Service Award; Sadie Markewicz – Positive Attitude Award
2015 Marissa Cardwell – Service Award; Fabiolah Hernandez – Positive Attitude Award; Bob Edwards – Distinguished Service Award; Emily Rankin, Joe MacLeod, Niamh Kelly, Bob Edwards, Phyllis Cater – Team Award
2014 Phyllis Carter – Service Award; Claudia Mickelson, John Collins – Positive Attitude Award; Bill McCarthy – Distinguished Service Award
2013 Brian McAnneny – Service Award; Jim Doughty – Distinguished Service Award; Bob Kirby, Michael Yarsky, Kelsey Magnuson, Jackie Leahy – Positive Attitude Award; Bret Dyer, Craig Bryer – Team Award
2012 EHS Infinite Mile Awards Recipients – Hao Nguyen, Jessica Van, Laurie Veal, Mitchell Galanek, Mark Linehan, Fred McWilliams
2011 Lauren Russo – Positive Attitude Award, Martha Adams – Positive Attitude Award, Susan Leite – Service Award; Distinguished Service Award winners: Kathryn Blass, Claudia Mickelson, Hans Richter
2010 Diane Cormier – Distinguished Service Award, Nancy Doherty – Service Award, Lou DiBerardinis – Leadership Award, Niamh Kelly, Bret Dyer, Dan Kallin, Andy Kalil, and Abby Licnikas – Team Award, Bob Edwards & Nadia Morrison – Special Service Award
2009 Barry Mendes (Team Award), Heidi Montanari (Service Award), Jessica Van (Service Award), Niamh Kelly (Positive Attitude Award), Hans Richter (Distinguished Service Award), Dan Kallin (Team Award), Emily Ranken (Team Award),
2008 Angie Birnbaum, Katie Blass, Michael DeBerio, Robert Farley, Melissa Kavlakli, Judi Reilly, Ryan Samz, Rosario Silvestri, and Ron Stoute.
2007 Deying Sun, Emily Ranken, Pamela Greenley
2006 Andrew Kalil, Robert Kirby, Hao Nguyen
2005 Maureen Fitzgerald, Steven Greenlaw, Marilyn Hallock, Rhonda O’Keefe, Beth Rice, Laurie Veal
2003 Justin Adams, William McShea, Seth Seligman
2002 David Barber
2001 Katie Blass, Zhanna Davidovitz, Gerry Fallon, Marilyn Hallock, William McCarthy, Carolyn Stahl, William VanSchalkwyk
EHS DLC Excellence Awards
The EHS Office, supported by the Institute, recognizes Department, Lab or Center (DLCs) for their excellent performance in EHS Training and Level II Inspection metrics annually with the EHS Excellence Awards. DLCs are evaluated and categorized based on the number of trainees in a DLC: 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 DLC must be above 90% for the previous year. The award is given to the highest performing DLC for each category.
2022 Recipients
Department of Biological Engineering
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Department of Mathematics
2021 Recipients
Department of Biological Engineering
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Department of Mathematics
2019 Excellence Awards
Center for Environmental Health and Sciences
Center for Material Science and Engineering
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
2018 Excellence Awards
Biology
Department of Material Science and Engineering
Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
2017 Excellence Awards
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
2016 Excellence Awards
Division of Comparative Medicine
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Nuclear Science and Engineering
Biological Engineering
Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
2015
Excellence Award Recipients: Nuclear Reactor Laboratory
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Department of Chemistry; Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research; Department of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Science
2014
Excellence Award Recipients: Brain and Cognitive Sciences; Biological Engineering
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Chemical Engineering; Division of Comparative Medicine
2013
Excellence Award Recipients: Biology; Center for Biomedical Engineering
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Science
2012
Excellence Award Recipients: Biology; Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
2011
Excellence Award Recipients: Plasma Science and Fusion Center; Biotechnology Process Engineering Center
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Chemical Engineering; Nuclear Science & Engineering
2009
Excellence Award Recipients: Center for Environmental Health Science; Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Biological Engineering; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
2008
Excellence Award Recipients: Center for Environmental Health Science; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; Microsystems Technology Lab
Special Recognition Award Recipients: Biological Engineering; Clinical Research Center; Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology; Plasma Science and Fusion Center
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.
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
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
