Reward Exceptional Student Service with a Frist Award

Nominations for coveted award are due by April 6

OXFORD, Miss. – The selection committee for the Thomas Frist Student Service Award is accepting nominations for the University of Mississippi‘s annual recognition of faculty and staff members who go “the extra mile” to provide exceptional assistance to students.

Students, alumni, friends, faculty and staff can submit nominations for the annual awards online through April 6. The online form to submit nominations is at http://www.olemiss.edu/frist_award/.

Any full-time faculty or staff member, except previous winners, is eligible for the award, which includes a $1,000 prize and a plaque. Past nominations also may be considered.

“The Frist Award is an outstanding opportunity to recognize individuals who embody the caring and supportive qualities that characterize the Ole Miss spirit,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. “Many of our staff and faculty members frequently offer extra time and energy in support of our students, and we are grateful to have an occasion to celebrate their generosity, selflessness and kindness.”

Nominations should not focus on classroom teaching or tutoring efforts. The Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award, which has a separate nomination process, recognizes excellence in that area.

The nomination narrative should differentiate between obligation and service by citing specific examples in which the person being nominated has gone beyond the call of duty to help a student or students.

Awards are to be presented May 13 at Commencement.

The 2022 Frist winners were Eden Tanner, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Norris “EJ” Edney, assistant vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion. 

Previous recipients include faculty members Aileen Ajootian, Michael Barnett, Luca Bombelli, Robert Brown, Brett Cantrell, Donald Dyer, JoAnn Edwards, Denis Goulet, Marc Showalter and Ken Sufka; and staff members Carol Forsythe, Cindy May, Ginger Patterson, Valeria Ross, Amy Saxton and Linda Spargo.

The Frist Student Service Awards were established with a $50,000 gift from the late Dr. Thomas F. Frist, of Nashville, a 1930 UM graduate.

For more information or to submit a nomination, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/frist_award/.