2025 Staff Distinguished Performance Award Winners Announced
Distinguished Performance Award winners (from left to right) J. Jagriti, Prathima Pattada, Phareta Calkin, Kyle Walker, and Rasheda Hamilton. Jacob Short was unable to attend.
JONESBORO – The 32nd annual Distinguished Performance Awards at Arkansas State University were presented to six staff members and one staff group for excellence in a department or team.
The annual campus ceremony for non-faculty employees was conducted by members of the Staff Senate. The recognitions were presented by members of the award committee: Angela Daniels, Tiffany Mosley and Ian Buchanan.
The Distinguished Performance Award recipients are:
-- Enhancing the Student Experience – Rasheda Hamilton, transition studies coordinator, University College
-- STAR (Service, Teamwork, Attitude, Reliability) - Prathima Pattada, program director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute
-- Unsung Hero – Phareta Calkin, institutional printer, Printing Services
-- Team Player – Kyle Walker, director of learning support services, University College
-- Rookie of the Year – J. Jagriti, Higher Education Institution (HEI) programs coordinator, Graduate School
-- Outstanding Part-Time Award – Jacob Short, personal trainer and group fitness coach at Red Wolf Wellness
-- Team Achievement Award – Office of Residence Life
The award nominees are individuals who exemplify professionalism and dedication to excellence in service who perform above the standard to enhance quality at A-State.
The program also included recognition of retiring staff members and those achieving service milestones of five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years.
The Distinguished Performance Awards program was initiated in 1994 to recognize outstanding job performance and long-time service by the university’s non-faculty employees, both classified and non-classified. 
Team Achievement Winners: the University Housing and Facilities Management Team (from left to right): Kelly Ponder, Jenny Gray, Zhedrick Jackson, Larry Floyd, Lex Leonard, and Natalie Eskew.
