Awards and Recognition
T.O.A.S.T. Awards
Show your appreciation for a colleague by giving them a Totally Outstanding Attitude, Service and Talent (T.O.A.S.T.) Award by completing the T.O.A.S.T. Awards Form. After submitting the form, you will receive a certificate that can be printed and presented to the recipient.
See the T.O.A.S.T. Award recipients
March 2026
Eric Campbell – Communication Technologies
January 2026
Darren Fallis – Security and Compliance
Mike McComas – Security and Compliance
Damon Armour – Security and Compliance
Andy Kotynski – Security and Compliance
Kris Stewart – Business Services
Julianna Simmons – Technology Support Services
November 2025
Chris Bradsher – Security and Compliance
October 2025
Errol Zulueta – Technology Support Services
TJ Buffaloe – Communication Technologies
Tracy Burnette – Communication Technologies
September 2025
Bill Rodriguez – Security and Compliance
Damon Armour – Security and Compliance
Mardecia Bell – Security and Compliance
Farah Shaikh – Project Management Lite Program
Erin Springer – Technology Support Services
Cheyenne Colburn – Technology Support Services
Jonathan Cranford – Shared Services
Caffie Darden – Communication Technologies
Chelsea Sutton – Outreach, Communications and Consulting
Stephen Taylor – Communication Technologies
Marie Hotaling – Communication Technologies
Eric Campbell – Communication Technologies
Nicolas Kallesten – Technology Support Services
August 2025
Lee Hargis – Communication Technologies
Todd Miller – Communication Technologies
Alyssa Kim – Technology Support Services
Aaron Thomas – Technology Support Services
Pride of the Wolfpack
The Pride of the Wolfpack recognizes staff members on a quarterly basis who make significant contributions to improve the services, systems and experiences of OIT or the campus community and those who demonstrate university values. Recipients receive a certificate and mug sponsored by Wolfpack Outfitters.
Nominate an OIT employee by completing the Pride of the Wolfpack Nomination Form. Consider the following questions when submitting your nomination:
- What problem did the individual solve?
- What challenges did they face and how did they overcome them?
- Did they demonstrate leadership on the job?
- Did they save their department or the university time or money?
- Did they improve relationships at work?
Awards for Excellence
The Awards for Excellence program was established in 1996 to recognize the achievements of employees who contribute to the university’s success. OIT has three department-level awards — two SHRA and one non-faculty EHRA.
An email will be sent to OIT staff requesting nominations. Any permanent SHRA employee or non-faculty EHRA employee can be nominated. All campus employees, including individuals or groups, may submit nominations. However, nominees must be individuals.
Learn more about the Awards for Excellence.
See the Awards for Excellence recipients
2026
Gabbi Ferguson – Outreach, Communications and Consulting
Keyta Kemp – Enterprise Application Services
Rebecca Sitton – Outreach, Communications and Consulting
2025
April Jones – Business Services
Bill Rodriguez – Security and Compliance
2024
Cristian Gradisteanu – Security and Compliance
Jill Phipps – Business Services
2023
David Wagner – Technology Support Services (University Awards for Excellence winner)
Damian Boyce – Technology Support Services
James Glover – Technology Support Services
IT Community Awards
Since 2019, the NC State IT Community Awards have aimed to recognize teams and individuals that have made a significant collaborative impact within the university’s IT community. Any member of the NC State IT community can be nominated for the following awards:
- Operational Excellence Team Award
- Extraordinary Project Team Impact Award
- Team Player Award
- Rising Star Award
Nominate a colleague via the NC State IT Community website.