Community members receive 2024 MIT Excellence Awards, Collier Medal, and Staff Award for Distinction in Service

On Wednesday, June 5, 13 individuals and four teams were awarded MIT Excellence Awards — the highest awards for staff at the Institute. Colleagues holding signs, waving pompoms, and cheering gathered in Kresge Auditorium to show their support for the honorees. In addition to the Excellence Awards, staff members were honored with the Collier Medal, the Staff Award for Distinction in Service, and the Gordon Y. Billard Award.

The Collier Medal honors the memory of Officer Sean Collier, who gave his life protecting and serving MIT; it celebrates an individual or group whose actions demonstrate the importance of community. The Staff Award for Distinction in Service is presented to a staff member whose service results in a positive lasting impact on the Institute.

The Gordon Y. Billard Award is given annually to staff, faculty, or an MIT-affiliated individual(s) who has given “special service of outstanding merit performed for the Institute.” This year, for the first time, this award was presented at the MIT Excellence Awards and Collier Medal celebration.

The 2024 MIT Excellence Award recipients and their award categories are:

  • Innovative Solutions
    • Nanotechnology Material Core Staff, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Office of the Vice President for Research (Margaret Bisher, Giovanni de Nola, David Mankus, and Dong Soo Yun)
  • Bringing Out the Best
    • Salvatore Ieni
    • James Kelsey
    • Lauren Pouchak
  • Serving Our Community
    • Megan Chester
    • Alessandra Davy-Falconi
    • David Randall
    • Days Weekend Team, Department of Custodial Services, Department of Facilities: Karen Melisa Betancourth, Ana Guerra Chavarria, Yeshi Khando, Joao Pacheco, and Kevin Salazar
    • IMES/HST Academic Office Team, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, School of Engineering: Traci Anderson, Joseph R. Stein, and Laurie Ward
    • Team Leriche, Department of Custodial Services, Department of Facilities: Anthony Anzalone, David Solomon Carrasco, Larrenton Forrest, Michael Leriche, and Joe Vieira
  • Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Bhaskar Pant
    • Jessica Tam
  • Outstanding Contributor
    • Paul W. Barone
    • Marcia G. Davidson
    • Steven Kooi
    • Tianjiao Lei
    • Andrew H. Mack