Models of Excellence Program
The Call for Nominations for 2026 Models of Excellence Awards is now closed.
Honorees will be announced in February 2026.
About Models of Excellence
The Models of Excellence Award program celebrates the extraordinary achievements of full- and part-time staff across the University's schools and centers and has recognized over 1,800 staff members. Now in its twenty-sixth year, the program continues to advance the University’s principles and practices by honoring the people who are the foundation of all we do.
Each year, Penn offers the whole community the chance to recognize these efforts by nominating staff members for Models of Excellence honors in the fall and by attending the award ceremony in April.
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The Awards
- Models of Innovation Award Since 1999, this award, previously named the Models of Excellence Award, has recognized staff member accomplishments that reflect initiative, leadership, increased efficiency, and a deep commitment to service. The renamed award reflects our continued commitment to recognizing forward-thinking contributions to Penn's success.
- Pillars of Excellence Award Introduced in 2014, this award recognizes the important contributions of our staff in support roles who promote Penn’s success.
- Model Supervisor Award Since 2007, this award has honored supervisors who are successful and constructive contributors to Penn's success.
The Nomination Process
The call for nominations for 2026 is now open. You can nominate individual Penn staff members and teams for an award in three categories: Pillars of Excellence, Models of Innovation, and Model Supervisor.
The nomination process is detailed, and all its components must be completed before the nomination can be accepted. Before completing the nomination form, review the published worksheet, which will help you to collect the required information, and work with a partner or team collaboratively, before entering it in the nomination form.
Nomination steps:
- Review the eligibility criteria below.
- Complete the Nomination Form, which includes two reference letters and supervisor verification of eligibility.
- For a nomination for a team, use the Models Team Member Form in the Nomination Form to record your list of names and contact information for each nominee.
- Submit the completed Nomination Form by November 7, 2025.
Eligibility
The table below describes specific criteria for each award category.
| Models of Excellence | Pillars of Excellence | Model Supervisor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active full-time staff | X | X | X |
| Active part-time staff | X | X | X |
| Supervisor, Manager or Director | X | ineligible | X |
| Staff in Support Roles | X | X | ineligible |
| in Performance Improvement/ Discipline | ineligible | ineligible | ineligible |
| Length of time in a supervisory position | n/a | n/a | 2 years or more |
| Number of staff supervised (student workers not included) |
n/a | n/a | 2 or more |
Who Can Submit Nominations
All members of the Penn community are welcome to submit nominations, including faculty, students, staff, and postdocs. Staff members may nominate themselves or their teams.
Selection and Notification
An annually rotating Models of Excellence Selection Committee reviews all nominations and selects the award winners. The committee is representative of the talent of our institution, composed of Penn leaders from the Provost, Executive Vice President, and Vice President of Human Resources areas, previous Models of Excellence award winners, and other faculty and staff members from across campus.
After staff members are chosen for recognition, they will be notified in the spring term. The honorees are announced to the Penn community. 2026 honorees will be recognized at the Models of Excellence Award Ceremony on June 1, 2026.
Awards, Ceremony, and Reception
The Penn community will celebrate your outstanding efforts and achievements at the Models of Excellence Ceremony on June 1, 2026.
In all categories, award recipients each receive an engraved keepsake and a $500 cash prize. Recipients must be active University employees on the date of the ceremony to participate on stage and receive their award.
Teams of 20 or fewer members: Each team member will receive an individual award of $500, with a maximum total team award of $10,000, consistent with the individual honoree guidelines.
Teams exceeding 20 members: The team total award amount is capped at $10,000, which will be divided equally among all team members. No individual team member will receive more than $500.
Questions? Call 215-898-7729 or contact us by email.