Five awarded President’s Award for Excellence

President Tim Sands announced five winners during the 2026 President’s Award for Excellence ceremony on Tuesday, April 21. Winners received an award and $2,000 dollars, pre-tax.

The President’s Award for Excellence, established in 1990 by President James D. McComas, is an annual recognition of full-time staff for their outstanding contributions and consistently excellent performance for Virginia Tech.

Twenty employees with a collective 301 years of service were nominated.

"It's inspiring to see the ways these exceptional employees bring the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) to their work. Their dedication has far-reaching impacts that make Virginia Tech a better place for Hokies to grow, learn, and discover," said Sands. "I am thankful for the roles they play in our successes and appreciate their nominators for helping us to recognize their achievements."

The 2026 President’s Award recipients are the following:

Penny Falck, accountant senior, general accounting, for the Office of the University Controller, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1999.

Kelly Moles, manager of general accounting for University Controller, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Beyond Penny’s technical contributions, she brings positive attention to the university through her professionalism and service mindset. Penny is widely recognized as a trusted resource, with several finance directors referring to her as part of the ‘A-team’ and noting her consistent ability to help find resolutions. Departments frequently seek her out for guidance, knowing she will see issues through to completion regardless of complexity.”

William “Will” Frazier, mail systems specialist for Mail Services, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2020.

Pam Tate, assistant director of auxiliary services for the Division of Auxiliary and Business Services, wrote in a letter of nomination: “William’s efforts extend well beyond expectations in his daily duties, including his dedication to quality customer service, support of our staff within his role, in front line support of mail services IT needs, and most recently in development and utilization of Power BI for our department and at the division level as well. William’s place at the front of our customer service assures his knowledge, skills, and abilities are brought to bear and handle some of our most challenging issues. He’s known as having a great personality and aptitude for handling critical issues, challenges, and people.”

Susan Hypes, facilities housekeeper for Facilities Operations, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2017.

Joseph Griffitts, director of Hokie Passport Services, wrote in a letter of nomination: “The Student Services Building is always spotless, well maintained, and welcoming due to Susan’s high standards and attention to detail. Because this building serves as a crucial point of contact for students and the greater university community, Susan's efforts play a significant role in reflecting the university's commitment to excellence, care, and service.”

Bruce Lytton, director of building systems maintenance for Facilities Operations, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1989.

Anthony Watson, assistant vice president of Facilities Operations, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Across all Bruce’s responsibilities, he leads with professionalism, integrity, and a deep sense of ownership for the university's built environment. Bruce sets high expectations for himself and others, communicates clearly and constructively, and consistently puts the needs of the campus community at the forefront of his decisions. Whether navigating complex technical challenges or reinforcing service standards with external partners, Bruce brings stability, expertise, and an unwavering focus on excellence.”

Dreama Price, assistant to department head and HR coordinator for the Department of Biological Sciences, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1983.

Daniela Cimini, professor and department head for biological sciences, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Dreama’s remarkable wealth of knowledge makes her a point of reference for anyone who has questions on recruiting and managing personnel, sponsoring visa applications, navigating paperwork associated with research leaves, parental leave and modified duties, and so much more. She is the department’s primary point of contact on this wide variety of issues, not just because of her broad expertise, but because we know that if she does not have an answer, she will find out. Even more important, in her role as HR coordinator, Dreama is often at the leading edge of helping our students, staff, or faculty navigate extremely challenging times, which she does with skill and enormous compassion.”

In addition to this year’s winners, congratulations to the following 2026 President’s Award for Excellence nominees:

• Christopher “Chris” Cooper, electric service supervisor, Virginia Tech Electric Service
• Erin Deitzel, communications specialist, Honors College
• Cynthia “Cindy” Gautier, director of business operations, Department of Chemistry
• Hallie Harriman, program coordinator, Invasive Species Collaborative
• Kayla Harris, administrative coordinator, Air Force ROTC
• Amy Ingram, administrative manager, School of Education
• Heather Palmer, custodial services training specialist, Facilities Operations
• Jessica Perfater, senior HR service center representative, Division of Human Resources
• Lauren Reed, I-9 compliance administrator, Division of Human Resources
• Pamela “PJ” Shepherd, research specialist senior, Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center
• Pam Stiff, executive assistant, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
• Melissa Vidmar; marketing, communications, and partnerships manager, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
• Andrew “Andy” Volker, pre-award grants coordinator, Dean of Science
• Caroline Wilkinson, executive search coordinator and new hire specialist, Division of Human Resources
• Michelle Wooddell, operations manager, Department of Psychology

Find more information about this year’s winners and nominees. Find information on past award winners.