The Thomas S. Thompson Endowment for Staff Excellence Awards

About the Donors

Margaret Thompson established the Thomas S. Thompson Endowment for Staff Excellence Awards in honor of her late husband, Dr. Thomas S. Thompson, who was president of Morningside College from 1969 until his retirement in 1978.  He passed away in 1999.

Dr. Thompson served in private education throughout his lifetime.  He loved small, private schools, and the Thompson’s enjoyed their years at Morningside.

Dr. Thompson was the first lay person to serve as president of Morningside College.  Before coming to Morningside, he was vice president for development at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif.; director of development, Knox College, Galesburg, Ill.; director of sustaining associates program, Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.; and director of development, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Ore.

Dr. Thompson held doctorate and bachelor degrees from Pacific University, Forest Grove, Ore., and a master’s degree from Oregon State College, Corvallis.  Margaret Thompson, a native of Portland, Ore., graduated from Oregon State.

In 1996, the couple established the Thomas S. and Margaret A. Thompson Endowed Scholarship, awarded each year to one or more Morningside students who demonstrate academic promise and potential to contribute to the betterment of their communities.

Statement of Purpose

The Thomas S. Thompson Staff Excellence Awards were established in 2003 to:

• Reward outstanding dedication, service, and commitment to Morningside College
• Recognize employees who have enhanced the student’s educational experience or daily environment and whose exceptional contributions through teamwork have improved a department or division of the college
• Recognize employees whose lives and work reflect the college’s mission statement

Program

Morningside College staff members each play an important role in providing students with a quality educational experience.  In a small, private college environment, the contributions of the staff become especially relevant.  The Thomas S. Thompson Staff Excellence Awards are tangible symbols of Morningside College’s commitment to honoring outstanding, dedicated staff members.

Five bonus awards in the amount of $4000 each will be presented annually.  Additionally, one Employee of the Year award will be presented in the amount of $5000.

Recipients’ names are placed on the ballot for Staff Senate.

Selection

General Process

The selection of the Thomas S. Thompson Staff Excellence Award recipients begins with nominations.  The Staff Senate reviews the nominations and recommends 15 names to the President of Morningside College for further review and the President and Vice Presidents of Morningside College select the six award recipients.

The Selection Process is confidential.

The awards will be presented at the annual employee recognition banquet.  The award year runs from September 1 through August 31, to coincide with the Morningside College academic year.

Criteria

The recipients of the Thomas S. Thompson Staff Excellence Awards are selected based upon their demonstration of outstanding dedication, service, and commitment to Morningside College.  The nominees are considered for their contributions to their respective departments, representation in campus organizations, and service and volunteer efforts toward fulfilling the mission statement of Morningside College.

Awards are based on the accomplishments, activities, and service of the employee during the previous academic year.

Eligibility

Only staff members who are currently employed in full-time or 9-month part-time designated staff or administrative positions below the rank of Vice President may be nominated.  Nominees must have at least 24 months of employment prior to the academic bonus year (employed at least since September 1, 2003, for the 2005-06 academic bonus year).

A nominee cannot receive this award in consecutive years.  Retired/retiring employees may be considered if their retirement falls within the award year.

Nomination Processes

All nomination forms may be obtained from the office of Human Resources.

There are three processes by which individuals may be nominated for the Thomas S. Thompson Staff Excellence Awards:

              Process 1. Any employee can self-nominate.  Self-nomination forms must be returned to Human Resources no later than 5 p.m. on October 15.

              Process 2. Any employee can recommend one other eligible employee for nomination.  Recommendation forms must be signed and submitted to Human Resources no later than October 1.

              Process 3. The President and Vice Presidents of Morningside College each may recommend up to two eligible employees.  Recommendation forms must be signed and submitted to Human Resources no later than October 1.

Employees recommend by other employees, the President, or Vice Presidents will receive a nomination form to complete from the Human Resources office.  Completion and return of the form by October 15 is necessary to be considered for the award.

Nominations will be retained as sealed records until such a time as individuals are selected or upon termination of employment from Morningside College, excluding nominated retirees within the award year.

For more information, contact the Human Resources Office at 712-274-5114.