The Capstone Awards continues the legacies of five outstanding individuals – E. Rogers Sayers, Minnie C. Miles, Sam S. May, Vergil Parks McKinley, Sr. and Rickey Yanaura by honoring individual employees, departments, or teams for their exemplary performance, winning spirit, exceptional customer service, and enterprising ways. Each served The University of Alabama in his or her own, unique way. Giving their all, they demonstrated every day that serving others is not only a privilege but a calling.
Information about each award is linked below. Please contact HR Learning and Development at 348-9700 or hrlearninganddevelopment@ua.edu with questions.
If you experience difficulties using the online submission forms, please email your submission to the HR Service Center at hrsvctr@ua.edu.
The E. Roger Sayers Distinguished Service Award
The E. Roger Sayers Distinguished Service Award was created in 1996 by members of the President’s Cabinet and the National Alumni Association to recognize faculty and exempt administrative personnel who have performed in an exemplary manner to further the mission of the University. The award is named honoring Dr. E. Roger Sayers, president of The University of Alabama from 1988-1996.
GUIDELINES
- Recognizes faculty and exempt administrative personnel.
- The Department of Human Resources solicits nominations in the spring semester.
- Any UA employee may submit nominations.
- Deadline for nominations is March 12, 2021.
- This award is presented annually at the President’s Spring Campus-Wide Meeting.
- A monetary award accompanies this honor.
Learn More About E. Roger Sayers
2021 Award Recipient
The Dr. Minnie C. Miles Endowed Excellence Award
The Dr. Minnie C. Miles Endowed Excellence Award, established in 1995, honors exempt, non-faculty administrative employees who have performed in an exemplary manner, exceeding the expectations set for their position and fostering the mission of the University. The award is named honoring Dr. Minnie C. Miles, a long-term business faculty member who began her lifetime of service to The University of Alabama in 1942 and retired in 1978.
GUIDELINES
- Recognizes exempt, non-faculty, administrative employees.
- The Department of Human Resources solicits nominations in the spring semester.
- Any UA employee may submit nominations.
- Deadline for nominations is March 12, 2021.
- This award is presented annually at the President’s Spring Campus-Wide Meeting.
- A monetary award accompanies this honor.
Learn More About Dr. Minnie C. Miles
2021 Award Recipient
The Sam S. May Commitment to Service Award
The Sam S. May Commitment to Service Award, established in 2000, recognizes teams or departments demonstrating exceptional commitment, innovation, or creativity in customer service. This award honors a very special man who worked for the University as a Custodian in the Chemistry Department from 1911 to 1941.
GUIDELINES – Due to limited business operations the deadline for this award has been adjusted.
- Recognizes teams or departments demonstrating exceptional commitment, or creativity in customer service.
- Any UA employee, team or department may submit nominations.
- Nominations are accepted on an on-going basis.
- The deadline to submit nominations is July 31.
- Recipients from each division and a community-wide team may be selected.
- These awards are presented annually at the President’s Fall Campus-Wide Meeting. Note: The process for recognizing the 2020 recipients is to be announced.
- A monetary award accompanies this honor.
Learn More About Sam S. May
2021 Award Recipient
The Vergil Parks McKinley, Sr. Employee Award
John K. McKinley and the late Helen H. McKinley established this award to recognize enterprising employees, who by action or idea, contribute to The University of Alabama’s mission of teaching, research and service. The award honors Dr. Vergil Parks McKinley, a long-time professor at the University of Alabama who began his career in 1918 and retired in 1945 as head of the Trade and Industrial Development Department in the College of Education.
GUIDELINES
- Recognizes enterprising employees who, by action or idea, contribute to UA’s mission of teaching, research, and service.
- UA supervisors may nominate any eligible direct report.
- Nominations are accepted on an on-going basis.
- Nominations will be kept on file for one year from the date of submission.
- This award is presented quarterly and recipients for the year are recognized at the Fall Campus Assembly.
- A monetary award accompanies this honor.
Learn More About Vergil Parks McKinley
2021 Award Recipient
The Rickey Yanaura Crimson Spirit Award
The Rickey Yanaura Crimson Spirit Award, renamed in 2007 in honor of Rickey Yanaura, known as “the university photographer” for 25 years, recognizes employees who by actions, words, and deeds, make The University of Alabama an exceptional place to work and learn. Nominees for this award define “Crimson Spirit” by their very presence.
GUIDELINES
- Recognizes employees who by actions, words, and deeds make UA an exceptional place to work and learn.
- Any UA employee may submit nominations.
- Nominations will be accepted on an on-going basis.
- Nominations will be kept on file for one year from the submission date.
- One recipient from each campus division may be selected on a quarterly basis.
- These awards are presented quarterly.
- A monetary award accompanies this honor.
Learn More About Rickey Yanaura
2021 Award Recipient
Have questions or need more information?
Please call Human Resources Learning & Development 348-9700.