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The Hoos Building Bridges Award recognizes employees and teams who bring people together across schools, departments, and organizations to address longstanding challenges, improve processes, and create lasting impact. The University launched the awards in 2019, building on a vision UVA President Jim Ryan outlined in his first Opening Convocation address – a University community of people who, when in doubt, “build a bridge.”

Five individuals and one team were well-deserved recipients of the 2026 Hoos Building Bridges award and were honored at a reception on Aug. 31 at the Rotunda. The 2026 recipients exemplify the power of collaboration. Through partnership, innovation, and a shared commitment to service, these award winners have connected people, ideas, and resources to strengthen the University community. Awardees were presented with a framed certificates and a $350 monetary award from President Beardsley that will be added to their paychecks.

Please congratulate these exceptional award winners when you see them!

Individual winners include:

• Lauren Armstrong, Assistant Director, School of Medicine Office of Grants and Contracts
• Cynthia Douglass, Sr. Communications and Marketing Specialist & Digital Accessibility Liaison, Human Resources
• Kerry Hendrix, Nurse Practitioner, Student Health and Wellness
• Shelly Lovelace, Sr. Academic Administration & Policy Officer, Office of the Provost
• Mikalah Martin, Intermediate Administrative Assistant, Pediatrics

Team winners include:

• Wicki Hardwick, Tracy Pettit, Karen Spitzer, Vinny Capaccio, Ginu George, Michael Cole, and Kristen Stanley — Information Technology Services team

Visit the UVA HR website to learn what these deserving individuals and teams did to win the Hoos Building Bridges Award.