The Vivian Cunniffe Award has been presented annually since 1986. Vivian Cunniffe, for whom the award is named, participated in University life in many ways. She began working here as a high school student in the clerical temp pool. She completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees here at CSUEB. And if that weren’t enough, Vivian even met her husband, Ed Cunniffe here on campus. She was a long time employee of the Financial Aid Office, where she excelled as a counselor. While vacationing in Spain in 1985, Vivian died tragically in an automobile accident. The Cunniffes were visiting with a family whose children the Cunniffes had hosted as exchange students.
Nominations are invited for outstanding staff employees whose efforts go beyond that which is necessary to accomplish their particular job. Any employee of the University may make a nomination. All non-management staff personnel with a minimum of 5 years of service at CSUEB, including Foundation and Associated Students, Inc. staff, are eligible for the Award. Petitions are not considered an appropriate form for a nomination. The specific criteria are:
- Professional attitude
- Willingness to assume responsibility
- Demonstrated commitment to campus life
- Pride in a job well done
The above are considered to be exemplified by dedication to the principle that the goals of the University are primary. The actions and interactions of the candidate with both students and fellow employees should reflect this principle, thereby making the campus environment a special place in which to work and to be educated.
All of the nominees are presented and the winner is named during the Annual Staff Recognition Awards Reception. The selected nominee receives free parking for one year, a crystal gift and their name inscribed on a perpetual plaque that is displayed in the Student Services and Administration (SA) lobby.
Recipients of the Vivian Cunniffe Award
Year |
Employee |
Department |
1986 |
Nancy Sadoyama |
ALSS |
1986 |
Nancy Sadoyama |
ALSS |
1987 |
Nan Franceschini |
Biology |
1988 |
Shirley Nalty |
Admissions & Records |
1989 |
LouAnn Fernelius |
College of Business |
1990 |
Bob Fenton |
Receiving |
1991 |
Virginia Palmer |
College of Science |
1992 |
Judy Hubbard |
Kinesiology and Physical Education |
1993 |
Susan Parsons |
College of Science |
1994 |
Jim Stanford |
Chemistry |
1995 |
Rose Carrillo |
History |
1996 |
Ann Cambra |
Statistics |
1997 |
Seth Masters |
Purchasing |
1998 |
Joseph Andrews |
Budget |
1999 |
Phillip Garbutt |
Geological Sciences |
2000 |
Edward Wright |
Theatre |
2001 |
Janice Muzzy |
Mathematics & Computer Science |
2002 |
Connie Sexauer |
Academic Senate |
2003 |
Rosanne Moore |
Academic Programs and Graduate Studies |
2004 |
Charlene Lebastchi |
College of Science |
2005 |
Sam Tran |
Enrollment Services |
2006 |
Thelma Stephens-Smith |
Facilities Planning & Operations |
2007 |
Stephen Faletti |
Planning & Enrollment Management |
2008 |
Sandra Anderson |
College of Business and Economics |
2009 |
Don Moreno |
Facilities Management |
2010 |
Lisa Booker |
Procurement and Support Services |
2011 |
Derrick Lobo |
Parking Services |
2012 |
Terry Cunningham |
Liberal Studies |
2013 |
Fernando Coronado |
FDO-Custodial |
2014 |
Julie Mielke |
College of Education & Allied Studies |
2015 |
Valerie Taniguchi |
Student Equity and Success |
2016 |
Doris Szeto |
College of Business and Economics |
2017 |
Matthew Evans |
College of Education & Allied Studies |
2018 |
Sylvia Musson |
Sociology |
2019 |
Belen Menjivar |
GANAS |
2020 |
Carolyn Chun |
Library Services |
2021 |
Marianna Wolff |
Speech Language and Hearing |
2022 |
Garvin Tso |
Communications and Marketing |