UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

University Staff Senate

Sally Margis University Staff Development Award

The Sally Margis University Staff Development Award is a monetary award available to University Staff for the purpose of enriching career development by supporting costs associated with additional education and/or training. Academic staff and faculty are not eligible for this award.

Sally Margis

Sally Margis

Annette Blanchette

Annette Blanchette

Sally Margis was a program assistant in the UWRF Chancellor's Office for 10 years before losing her battle with cancer in 1998. She is remembered for her smile, calming attitude and strong work ethic. After her death, under the expressed wish of colleague Annette Blanchette and the Margis family, an endowment fund was established in Sally's name to enhance career development of University Staff at UW-River Falls. The first award was given out in 2004.

The fund was established with a principle gift from Annette and from memorial gifts honoring Sally. Annette worked at UWRF from 1965-98 and after retirement remained actively involved with the university. She died in February 2015 with a provision in her estate plan to continue supporting the fund so through her generosity, the endowment will continue to support costs associated with University Staff career development.

Award recipient(s) will be announced at the Spring Opening Meeting in January.

 

Purpose:

The endowment was established to generate an annual award to develop, through education and/or training, a University Staff employee's career at UW-River Falls. The amount granted is to be used to support direct or indirect costs associated with career development. Examples of direct costs may include educational tuition and workshop/conference fees (relating to career development). Examples of indirect costs may include textbooks, special equipment, and software.

Criteria:

Applicants must be a permanent, project, or recurring temporary University Staff employee of UWRF. Applicants must fill out the Sally Margis University Staff Development Award Form and provide a statement of intent, limited to two pages, that includes the following information:

  1. Education and/or training/workshop you plan to attend.
  2. How will this education of training advance your skills?
  3. What direct or indirect costs will the award cover?

Funds must be used by June 30 of the following year. Costs must be incurred directly by the employee and cannot be used for expenses that have been charged to or initially paid by the university. Please note that the award must be processed through payroll and will be considered taxable income.

Selection Committee:

The Sally Margis Award Committee will review applications and make recommendations to the Chancellor who makes the final decision as to recipient(s). The award may be divided among multiple recipients.

Award Application Deadline:


4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023

Apply Now

Contact Us

University Staff Senate
universitystaffsenate@uwrf.edu

Jody Sather
Chair, University Staff Senate
jody.sather@uwrf.edu
715-425-4579