Recognizing Superior Customer Relations Service
The Customer Relations Employee of the Year Award Program is sponsored by the Human Resources Department and was established to recognize and reward the individual who best exemplifies the University's commitment to deliver positive customer relations service; to direct attention to the employee's contribution to enhancing the image of ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ; and to demonstrate the University's appreciation and acknowledgment of exceptional customer relations performance. The award consists of an engraved plaque, $500 recognition bonus, and three days of recognition leave (if classified).
2025 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Nominations
Hello Monarch Community! The ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ (³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ) Department of Human Resources is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2025 CREY Award have closed. Nominations for the 2026 CREY Award will reopen in early 2026. This award recognizes the Classified or Hourly employee who best exemplifies the University's Core Values. The Customer Relations Employee of the Year award winner will be announced at the Annual Recognition Program on Thursday, April 10, 2025. The award recipient will receive an engraved plaque, $500 recognition bonus, and three days of recognition leave (if classified).
Who is eligible? A Classified Employee or Hourly (Wage) Employee who has completed at least one year of service at the University. (Prior EVMS service applies.) The nominee must be in good standing with the University.
Criteria for selection: Nominees should demonstrate a commitment to one or more of the University’s Core Values (see descriptions below) as shown within the Forward-Focused Strategic Plan. Details and examples strengthen nominations, so please be detailed and thorough when providing your feedback. If you wish to include documentation to support your nomination, please attach it to the appropriate section in the nomination submission form. Documentation will not count as a substitution for filling out the required fields in the nomination submission form.
- Accessibility: Nurture an accessible culture that grants educational, social, professional, and scholarly opportunities for all members of our diverse community.
- Collaboration: Foster a sense of collaboration through synergistic approaches and shared governance.
- Excellence: Pursue excellence through student success and faculty and staff achievements.
- Global Engagement: Promote global engagement through intercultural understanding, shared knowledge, and innovative approaches to advancing international collaborations and stewardship.
- Inclusion: Commit to building an inclusive community that encourages empathy, mutual understanding, and the recognition of differences.
- Innovation: Leverage our strengths to cultivate and educate the next generation of innovators by solving today’s regional and global demands and addressing tomorrow’s challenges.
An Employee Relations representative chairs a selection committee which includes representatives from across the campus community as well as the winner from the previous year. The committee will review all submitted materials and meet to decide which nomination best documents the criteria for the award. The winner will be recognized at the Monarch Milestones event.
Please contact the Employee Relations department by email (employeerelations@odu.edu) or phone (757-683-3046) if you have any questions.
Hello Monarch Community! The ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ (³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ) Department of Human Resources is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2025 CREY Award have closed. Nominations for the 2026 CREY Award will reopen in early 2026. This award recognizes the Classified or Hourly employee who best exemplifies the University's Core Values. The Customer Relations Employee of the Year award winner will be announced at the Annual Recognition Program on Thursday, April 10, 2025. The award recipient will receive an engraved plaque, $500 recognition bonus, and three days of recognition leave (if classified).
Who is eligible? A Classified Employee or Hourly (Wage) Employee who has completed at least one year of service at the University. (Prior EVMS service applies.) The nominee must be in good standing with the University.
Criteria for selection: Nominees should demonstrate a commitment to one or more of the University’s Core Values (see descriptions below) as shown within the Forward-Focused Strategic Plan. Details and examples strengthen nominations, so please be detailed and thorough when providing your feedback. If you wish to include documentation to support your nomination, please attach it to the appropriate section in the nomination submission form. Documentation will not count as a substitution for filling out the required fields in the nomination submission form.
- Accessibility: Nurture an accessible culture that grants educational, social, professional, and scholarly opportunities for all members of our diverse community.
- Collaboration: Foster a sense of collaboration through synergistic approaches and shared governance.
- Excellence: Pursue excellence through student success and faculty and staff achievements.
- Global Engagement: Promote global engagement through intercultural understanding, shared knowledge, and innovative approaches to advancing international collaborations and stewardship.
- Inclusion: Commit to building an inclusive community that encourages empathy, mutual understanding, and the recognition of differences.
- Innovation: Leverage our strengths to cultivate and educate the next generation of innovators by solving today’s regional and global demands and addressing tomorrow’s challenges.
An Employee Relations representative chairs a selection committee which includes representatives from across the campus community as well as the winner from the previous year. The committee will review all submitted materials and meet to decide which nomination best documents the criteria for the award. The winner will be recognized at the Monarch Milestones event.
Please contact the Employee Relations department by email (employeerelations@odu.edu) or phone (757-683-3046) if you have any questions.
2025 Angel Hicks
2024 Kimberly Payne
2023 Linh Nguyen
2022 Rob Wells
2019 Joe Blanchard
2018 Deidre Hall
2017 Lilian Thompson
2016 Justin Mason
2015 Ardena Jordan
2014 Jimmy Patel
2013 Lanah Stafford
2012 Cheryl Woods
2011 Howard Wyle
2010 Donald Nash
2009 Harry Boucicaut
2008 Shannon Eggers
2007 Frankie Lopez
2006 Scott Harrison
2005 Patricia Capezio
2004 Sheila Harris
2003 Marla Harvey
2002 David Robichaud
2001 Linda Barnes
2000 Sue Parker
2025 CREY Winner Angel Hicks and President Brian O. Hemphill at the Monarch Milestones event April 10, 2025.
CREY award nominees at the April 5th luncheon.
VP Nina Rodriguez Gonser, 2024 CREY Winner Kimberly Payne and President Brian O. Hemphill at the April 5th luncheon.
VP September Sanderlin welcomes CREY award nominees at the April 5th luncheon.
2023 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Linh Nguyen with President Brian O. Hemphill.
2022 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Rob Wells with President Brian O. Hemphill.
2019 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Joe Blanchard.
2018 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Deidre Hall with President John R. Broderick.
2017 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Lillian Thompson.
2025 CREY Winner Angel Hicks and President Brian O. Hemphill at the Monarch Milestones event April 10, 2025.
CREY award nominees at the April 5th luncheon.
VP Nina Rodriguez Gonser, 2024 CREY Winner Kimberly Payne and President Brian O. Hemphill at the April 5th luncheon.
VP September Sanderlin welcomes CREY award nominees at the April 5th luncheon.
2023 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Linh Nguyen with President Brian O. Hemphill.
2022 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Rob Wells with President Brian O. Hemphill.
2019 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Joe Blanchard.
2018 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Deidre Hall with President John R. Broderick.
2017 Customer Relations Employee of the Year Lillian Thompson.