The time to submit nominations for year-end awards is nearing:

FEB. 15: Outstanding Professional Award. Outstanding Professional Award nomination criteria and a nomination form are available online at the Human Resource Services web site.

Nominations may be made by faculty, staff or students and should be sent to Human Resource Services at Box 5132 or submitted online no later than Feb. 15.
Administrative staff eligible for the award have been employed at the university full time for at least three years. Selection will be based on job performance, attitude, commitment to the university, professional development and program introductions.
For procedures and a nomination form, go online to www.tntech.edu/hr/StaffAwards/profstaffaward.htm.

The winner receives a cash award of $1,000 and an engraved plaque. Last year's winner was John W. Smith of University Advancement.

FEB. 17: Outstanding Faculty Awards in Teaching and Professional Service. Nominations for our faculty awards in outstanding teaching and professional service are being solicited by the Outstanding Faculty Awards Committee.

Any faculty member with three or more years of teaching and service to the university is eligible (although faculty members who have won one of the awards in the past three years are not).

Any faculty member, student or alumnus may submit nominations, which should be in letter form describing why the nominee merits consideration; only one letter per nominee is needed. Nominations for teaching awards should be based on instructional competence and effectiveness. Nominations for the service award should be based on service to the university in non-teaching and non-research capacities and on service to the community, state, region and nation.

Mail nominations to the Outstanding Faculty Awards Committee at Box 5136 no later than Feb. 17.

FEB. 24: Derryberry Award. The President's Office is seeking nominations for the 2006 Derryberry Award, an honor given annually to a senior who has shown scholastic ability, participation in campus activities, citizenship, leadership and excellence in sports.

Eligible seniors include those scheduled to graduate in May or August, as well as students who graduated December 2005.

A nomination form and a template to use as a guide for nominations are available online at www.tntech.edu/studentaffairs/derryberry_award.html. For consistency and ease in scoring, the award committee recommends that all nomination materials be prepared in the format used in the template.

The award was established in 1974 by friends, alumni and faculty with a special fund honoring long-time President Everett Derryberry. An ad hoc committee reviews nominations, interviews finalists and makes the final selection. Each year's winner receives a plaque and cash award.

Nominations should be submitted to Debbie Combs by e-mail at dkcombs or delivered to Derryberry 206 no later than Feb. 24.