The University Department of Human Resources announced that its Outstanding Contribution Awards will now be named after Leonard Sandridge, who is set to retire from his post as executive vice president and chief operating officer in December after more than four decades of service to the University.
The awards, given out annually, are the highest honors that University staff members can receive. After a nomination and selection process, recipients are recognized publicly with an engraving and $1,000 cash prizes.
"He is a man of the people," said Peggy Ehrenberg, Commerce School representative for the Employee Communication Council - a body that Sandridge himself helped create. "It's appropriate that such an award would be named after him. He is such an advocate and really has the best in mind for the entire U.Va. population - staff, faculty and students."
Sandridge is responsible for overseeing all non-academic support sectors at the University - from athletics and student affairs, to police relations and emergency preparedness. He has served in a variety of positions at the University since 1967, when he first joined as a member of the internal audit staff. He has held his current post since 1990.
"The Outstanding Contribution Awards are the University's means of recognizing and saying thank you for exceptionally good work," Sandridge said. "It is an honor for the Outstanding Contribution Awards to carry my name. I can't imagine anything that would mean more to me."
The awards, said Susan Carkeek, vice president and chief human resource officer, in many ways reflect the qualities Sandridge exhibits.
"He is always saying thank you, always very appreciative, and very caring when people are in need or if they go the extra mile," she said. "There have been many small things that he has contributed that a lot of people don't see day in and day out."
The impressions he has left on staff members often have come during their first few days at the University, when Sandridge addresses staff members during orientation sessions. Sandridge spoke at the session Ehrenberg attended seven years ago, when she first joined the University as a staff member, and discussed various aspects of the University - such as its diverse population and historical standing.
"But he culminated it by saying, 'If you see a piece of paper on the ground, pick it up,'" Ehrenberg said. "And every time I throw away a stray piece of paper, I think of Mr. Sandridge. At the time, his advice may have seemed trivial. But it never fails in reminding me to take pride in my work environment and community"
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