Nominations are in for the 2015 Superior Performance Award for non-negotiated Civil Service and Administrative and Professional employees with at least five years of Eastern employment.

Each year up to 10 awards of  $500 are presented. The award will be a one-time lump sum payment not added to base salary.

Richard Enyard, the director of Human Resources, said the program started as a three-year pilot program to honor employees who go above and beyond in the workplace.

This will be the third year that the awards will be presented.

Nominations may come from any department, as long as the staff member meets the criteria. Enyard said last year most of the recipients came from academic affairs.

Enyard said the first two years have been a success, and he would like to continue the award because it boosts morale and it encourages other employees.

It will be re-evaluated at the end of this year, but Enyard said he thinks the award will continue.

“Our goal is to continue it,” Enyard said. “People appreciate it because in the current economic climate, there are no pay increases, but staffs still want to feel like they are being appreciated.”

The president, each vice president and the Civil Service Council will appoint a representative to the selection committee. The selection committee will consist of seven members, who decide if nominees are admirable candidates for the award.

The committee will judge the nominees by seven categories including leadership, performance, loyalty, professional development, customer service, teamwork and initiative.

The Civil Service Council has been trying to start this program since 2008. The council wanted to give an award for staff members who exemplify superior performance but were not able to initiate it until two years ago.

The first two years of the program have seen the maximum number of recipients receiving the award.

Those who have been awarded may not receive this award again for another three years.

The ceremony will be the first week of April, and the recipients will be called to the stage at the reception to receive their awards.

Bob Shaughnessy can be reached at 581-2812 or rrshaughnessy@eiu.edu.