What Is IT Recognition
The mission of IT Recognition is to help encourage the University to recognize both individual employees and team achievements. The program rewards employees with exemplary performance based on both their role and contributions that support our mission.
Annual Awards
Innovate
This award acknowledges employees who demonstrate innovation, who bring in new practices or ideas, and help with executing those ideas to enhance productivity.
Grow
Someone who takes it upon themselves to learn new things, develop new skills or master new technologies in order to advance IT's agenda.
Communicate
Someone who goes above and beyond to communicate and share information with other members, both inside and outside of the organization, leading to greater transparency and accountability.
Satisfy
An individual who consistently performs at a level that yields high customer/end user satisfaction.
Engage
An individual who shows initiative in reaching out to others to work collaboratively whether internally or externally.
Cyber Defender of the Year
This award recognizes employees who promote, demonstrate, or influence secure computing behavior.
Team Award
This award will acknowledge a group of individuals who have demonstrated proficiency in any of the award categories.
MVP Award
This will be presented to the "Staff Member of the Year"; to someone who demonstrates outstanding contributions or makes a significant impact to meet or exceed University goals.
Share A Story
Recognition begins with you! Submit a recognition story for review. Learn more about how this process works below.
How Do I Submit A Nomination?
In order to submit a recognition nomination; familiarize yourself with the awards. Once you have decided which award you would like to recognize an employee or team for, proceed to the IT Recognition Form and complete the relevant fields.
Who Is Eligible for an Award?
The IT recognition program acknowledges employees who have gone beyond the expected. This program is inclusive to IT professionals and those who partner with IT professionals to fulfill the University’s mission.
Past Winners
2021-2022
MVP Award
Michael Castro
Communicate Award
Henry Joseph
Tara Mazovec
Grow Award
Saskya Barresi
Engage Award
Kim Rant
Innovate Award
John Passaro
Satisfy Award
James Kopczynski
Cyber Defender of the Year
Jeffrey Mackey
Team Award
Mark Carroll
Saskya Barresi
Jennifer Adams
Richard Stein
Tara Mazovec
Kristy Bunton
Julie Sharma
Kyle Adams
Nichole Gladky


2020
MVP Award
Mike White
Communicate Award
Judy Sellitto
Rich Tulipan
Richard Von Rauchhaupt
Grow Award
Anita Lago
Hassan Joseph
Joan Crawford
Engage Award
Lorraine Cannavale
Nicholas Capobianco
Innovate Award
David Ecker
Helen Mo
John Berwick
Patrick Tonra
Satisfy Award
Chauncey Clark
Mark Lang
Mauro Nicoletto
Ralph Molaro
2019
The recognition award was placed on hold.
2018
MVP Award
Brian Heller, Division of Information Technology
Communicate Award
Woody Brown, Division of Information Technology
Customer Service Award
Mary Kethman, Division of Information Technology
Grow Award
James Doyle, Division of Information Technology
Engage Award
Valerie Smith, Division of Information Technology
Rich Von Rauchhaupt, Division of Information Technology
Innovate Award
Mufakkir Chowdhury, Division of Information Technology
Satisfy
David Cyrille, Stony Brook Medicine Information Technology
Judith Sellitto, Division of Information Technology
Team Award - STAWG
Mark Velazquez, Division of Information Technology
Nichole Gladky, Division of Information Technology
Jacob Levich, Communications and Marketing
Henry Joseph, Division of Information Technology
Jennifer Jaiswal, Division of Information Technology
Diana Voss, Division of Information Technology
Cristina Striffler, Stony Brook Medicine Privacy Office
John Gianmugnai, Division of Information Technology
Watchdog Award
Ralph Molaro, Social and Behavioral Sciences Electronics Laboratory
2017
The recognition award was placed on hold. The program will resume in 2018 to be more inclusive of IT professionals and employees who partner with IT across Stony Brook University.
2016
MVP Award - Staff Member of the Year
Gail Levy, Infrastucture
Innovator:
Fang Peng, Enterprise Applications & Integrations
IT Partner:
Mark Lang, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Watchdog Award:
Steven Galante, Infrastructure
Core Value Award: Engagement
Jennifer Adams, Center for Excellence in Learning & Teaching
Core Value Award: Growth
Brian Heller, Infrastructure
Core Value Award: Satisfaction
Nick Capobianco, Customer Engagement & Support
Henry Joseph, Enterprise Applications & Integrations
2015
MVP Award - Staff Member of the Year
Michael Basile, Client Support
Core Value Award: Engagement
Matthew Nappi, Information Security Office
Core Value Award: Satisfaction
Bill Cusick, Video Services
Core Value Award: Innovation
Lorraine Carroll, The Faculty Center
Catherine Scott, The Faculty Center
Rich von Rauchhaupt, Web Strategy