Leona Barratt, Academic Technology Training Associate, is the recipient of the 2019 ITS Technology Excellence Award. Barratt was presented the award by Andrea Childress, ITS Assistant Vice President and UNK CIO, at a quarterly all-staff meeting.
Barratt was recognized for providing, “excellent support to campus users for a number of teaching and learning services as an Academic Technologies trainer and Canvas support expert.” Barratt was credited as a key player in the successful rollout of Canvas at UNL.
Childress shared that Barratt received numerous testaments on her expertise, knowledge, patience, and wonderful sense of humor. And, sharing her favorite sentence from the nomination and letters of support, Childress said of Barratt: “I have seen (Leona) turn a skeptical faculty member into a Canvas evangelist by assisting with questions, explaining how to use the system, and following face-to-face when the need arises.”
The Technology Excellence Award was established at UNK in 2010. In 2018, the award was transitioned to recognize staff in the new university-wide ITS organization. The award recognizes the exemplary performance of ITS staff members who consistently provide a level of service significantly above and beyond specific job responsibilities.
Recognition for the award is based on an individual’s commitment in terms of job performance; a commitment to service for students, faculty and/or staff; and contributions to the profession.
Technology Excellence Award Past Winners
2010 – Kay Liibbe
2011 – Dylan Evans
2012 – Jeremy Childress
2013 – Heidi Haussermann
2014 – Andrea Childress
2015 – Brandon Hammond
2016 – Don Ray
2017 – Shawn Lienemann
2018 – JR Noble