Every year the Newman University Staff Assembly presents the Staff Excellence Award to acknowledge a staff member’s self-sacrificing hard work and dedication toward the Newman University Mission. The awardee is nominated by Newman University staff and a final vote is passed through Staff Assembly based on the nominations received.
Director of Tennis and Women’s Tennis Head Coach Shella Augspurger was awarded the Staff Excellence Award during the 2015 Fall Institute – an annual faculty and staff meeting. When called to accept her award, everyone in the room looked for her, but Augspurger had left the building. Director of Sports information Tim Hanson explained to the crowd that she had left to pick up an international student-athlete from the airport. Augspurger had missed her own Staff Excellence Award announcement for doing just what she was nominated for – performing beyond her job’s normal duties to fulfill the mission of Newman University.
“Shella goes above and beyond for anything she does for the Athletic Department and the university,” Hanson said about Augspurger’s performace at Newman University. “Most people don’t realize that Shella is only a part-time employee, but volunteers her time to do so much more outside of the tennis program. With the athletic offices getting new carpet, Shella led the way by organizing painting before the new carpet was put in. She redesigned our offices to include a new area for our printers, coffee and mail. The coaches feel like they have a place to go during the day. She personally purchased furniture for a common area with chairs and tables. She also set up a study area for all current and future student-athletes to use. She’s a self starter with everything she’s doing being her ideas. Outside of all the extra stuff she has done, she plans all the decorating for the Hall of Fame, Jet Open and Jetspys – a new event Shella put together for all the student athletes. Shella always goes above and beyond, but this year she somehow topped herself.”
Hanson added, “She does so many other things that I’m sure go unnoticed. And she’s not the type to draw attention to herself about the work she is doing. She just wants what’s best for the university.”
Augspurger has been a staff member at Newman University since 2003.
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