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CALS Employee Portal

Nominate a CALS Colleague for Recognition on Wellness Day

September 15, 2025
copper wolf statues in a howling pose outdoors on a brick area and a blue sky in the background
The copper wolves howl into a deep blue sky on a fall morning at Wolf Plaza. Photo by Becky Kirkland.

At the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, celebrating the outstanding work of our colleagues is a top priority. CALS Dean Garey Fox and the Advisory Board for Strategic Excellence & Well-being (SEWB) are committed to strengthening our culture of awards and recognition to ensure faculty and staff are aware of the awards they are eligible for so that the incredible work being done by our colleagues is celebrated and recognized.  

Your Mission on Wellness Day

This year, we’re asking for your support on Wellness Day, Tuesday, Sept. 16, and encouraging you to take some time out of your normal routine to nominate someone in CALS for an award. This is a powerful way to show your appreciation, build a culture of gratitude and help recognize those who make a significant impact within our college. It will also make you feel great to recognize someone in the CALS Pack!

“By working together, we can ensure our colleagues receive the recognition they deserve,” Fox says. “We look forward to seeing the results of your efforts on Wellness Day and beyond!”

To make this process easier, the SEWB spearheaded an effort to create a new website focused on CALS Awards and Honors. You’ll find information on new and existing awards, including those listed below: cals.ncsu.edu/cals-awards-and-honors. 

Awards with Rolling Nominations and the CALS Goal

The following awards accept nominations on an ongoing basis. They are a great place to start and are easy to submit! Links to the nomination page are in Wolfpack Red:

  • Paws and Say Thanks (For all faculty and staff to show appreciation) – PAWS and Say Thanks is an on-the-spot, peer-to-peer recognition program that allows employees to send electronic or physical thank-you cards to outstanding colleagues throughout the university.
  • Thank a Teacher (For students to thank their instructors) – Since 2010, the Office for Faculty Excellence Thank a Teacher Program has recognized outstanding faculty going the extra mile to shape students through their teaching and mentorship. A simple note of gratitude could mean the world to your professors.

In honor of NC State’s founding in 1887, our college has set a goal of collecting 87 nominations for Paws and Say Thanks and 87 nominations for Thank a Teacher this academic year! 

Please help us reach our goal and recognize the outstanding members of our NC State community!

Awards Requiring a More In-Depth Nomination

If you know someone who deserves a more comprehensive nomination, consider one of the following. You’ll need to coordinate with your department, unit, or center awards committee. Ask your department head or unit leader for more information.

Crafting a Strong Nomination Package

A great nomination package tells a compelling story. To make your nomination stand out, focus on these key characteristics:

  • Specific and Measurable Evidence: Don’t just make general statements. Quantify the nominee’s impact with numbers and concrete examples.
  • Alignment with Award Criteria: Clearly show how the nominee’s efforts directly match the award’s criteria. Highlight times they went “above and beyond.”
  • A Cohesive Narrative: Tell a persuasive story about the nominee’s journey, their challenges, and their ultimate impact.
  • Supporting Materials: Gather strong letters of support from people who have firsthand knowledge of the nominee’s work.
  • Professionalism: Meticulously proofread your submission, follow all instructions, and start the process early.