Nominations for the 2026 Nicholas and Katherine Leone Award for Administrative Excellence

The Nicholas and Katherine Leone Award for Administrative Excellence is presented annually to a manager or supervisor who demonstrates outstanding administrative leadership while exemplifying the values and standards of The University of Texas Medical Branch.

The award was founded in 1971 through an endowment from Dr. Nicholas Leone, a former commanding officer and director of the Public Health Service Hospital in Galveston, and his wife Katherine.

At The University of Texas Medical Branch, our values guide how we work, collaborate, and serve others every day. These values form the foundation of our culture and reflect who we are as an academic health science center — innovating, educating, caring, and discovering in service to others.

INSPIRE

Integrity

Acting with honesty, transparency, accountability, and respect.

Nurture

Cultivating growth through mentorship, learning, compassion, and care that heals.

Synergy

Uniting talents, expertise, and perspectives to achieve greater impact together.

Passion

Bringing energy, creativity, purpose, and heart to everything we do.

Initiative

Taking action with accountability, ownership, and a commitment to meaningful progress.

Respect

Honoring the dignity, value, and humanity of every individual.

Excellence

Pursuing the highest standards in patient care, education, research, service, and innovation.

Nomination Process and Eligibility Criteria

Any UTMB employee may nominate a manager or supervisor for the Leone Award using this online nomination form.

The Leone Award recognizes managers/supervisors who display the highest degree of professionalism and adhere to UTMB's standards of conduct.  To be considered for the award, managers/supervisors must meet the following criteria:

• Benefits-eligible manager/supervisor
• Have a full-time Classified appointment (paid biweekly)
• Have at least 12 months of continuous service as a manager/supervisor in any UTMB department as of May 15, 2026
• Have at least one direct report identified within the PeopleSoft HCM system
• No performance improvement plan or corrective action initiated within the last 12 months
• Completed all mandatory requirements in FY25 (e.g., compliance training, testing, licensing, etc.)

Please note:

• The winning manager/supervisor must be an active employee on August 31, 2026 to receive the award.
• An individual cannot win the Leone Award more than once in a five-year period.

The deadline for nominating a UTMB employee is May 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CST.

Selection Process

The Leone Award recipient is selected by the UTMB Employee Advisory Council from the pool of qualified managers/supervisors.  Only one winner will be chosen and formally recognized by August 31, 2026.

Award Guidelines

The award recipient and his or her department/unit receive a $7,500 monetary gift from the Leone endowment - $2,500, for the winning manager/supervisor and $5,000 for the department/unit.

Manager/Supervisor Award - $2,500

• The award recipient will receive a trophy and $2,500 for his or her personal use;
• The $2,500 award amount will be grossed up for tax purposes;
• The trophy will be presented to the winning manager/supervisor by August 31, 2026.

Department/Unit Award - $5,000

• The award recipient’s department/unit will receive $5,000 for employee training and development.
• Employee training and development includes but is not limited to:
  • Educational conferences, seminars or workshops;
  • Project management courses;
  • Skills-based courses;
  • Books or other materials meant to enhance employee knowledge/performance;
• The maximum award amount that may be spent on an individual is $1,000;
• Any funds not spent may be rolled over to the next fiscal year, until depleted.

Frequently Asked Questions