Each year, Bucknell University recognizes staff members and teams whose dedication, creativity and collaborative spirit enrich the campus community. Named in honor of esteemed leaders from Bucknell's history, these awards celebrate exemplary service and commitment to the University's core values. This year's honorees — recipients of the Geiger Award, Zeller Award and Maxwell Award — have gone above and beyond in their roles, leaving a positive impact on colleagues and students. The awards were presented by President John Bravman at the annual campus picnic on August 18. 

The Walter C. Geiger Memorial Award

Named in honor of the late Walter C. Geiger, former director of the physical plant, this award recognizes members of the University's administrative staff who have demonstrated consistent excellence in their roles.

Kelly Cook, head women's soccer coach

Kelly Cook received the Walter C. Geiger Award for her outstanding leadership, mentorship, and dedication to fostering community and inclusivity at Bucknell. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

Cook's leadership extends beyond the soccer field. Known for her unwavering dedication to mentoring coaches, she provides one-on-one guidance, organizes "coaches' coffee" gatherings and creates space for open dialogue about challenges in collegiate athletics. Her initiatives — including youth soccer camps, faculty and staff appreciation events at games and department-wide wellness programming — have fostered a culture of inclusivity, support and school spirit.

Whether navigating last-minute schedule challenges, creating innovative training plans or spearheading Bucknell's National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Cook's colleagues say she manages every project with creativity and a focus on community. "Kelly consistently approaches challenges with a solutions-focused mindset and a high level of creativity," a nominator wrote. "Her ability to think strategically while remaining flexible has made her a go-to leader for navigating complex or evolving situations with confidence and care."

Mark "Hutch" Hutchinson, technical coordinator

Mark "Hutch" Hutchinson received the Walter C. Geiger Memorial Award to recognize his passion, creativity and welcoming spirit. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

For more than 15 years, Hutchinson has infused Bucknell's Department of Theatre & Dance with energy, ingenuity and genuine care for students. Hutchinson is known for welcoming prospective students and guiding them into the program. "Many students credit their decision to attend Bucknell to Hutch and his welcoming and informative presence during their application and decision process," a nominator wrote. "He jumps at the chance to talk to anyone who walks through the theaters. They may not even be intending to participate in theatre. More than once, he has guided them into our classes or activities."

As a technical director, Hutchinson solves complex creative challenges, from engineering a rain shower on stage to designing innovative set pieces. His leadership of the Arts FirstPre-Orientation program gives incoming students an immediate sense of belonging. As a dedicated Posse Scholar mentor and trained conflict facilitator, Hutchinson helps to shape the Bucknell community as a place where teamwork and respect for diverse perspectives thrive. 

The John F. Zeller Memorial Award for Support Staff Excellence 

This award, named in honor of the late John F. Zeller, former vice president for business & fiscal affairs and general counsel emeritus, recognizes a member of the support staff who demonstrates consistent excellence in their contributions to Bucknell and professionalism in working with others.

Tom Foerster, electronics technician II

Tom Foerster received the John F. Zeller Memorial Award for his technical expertise, dedication to campus safety and mentorship that strengthen Bucknell’s community. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

Foerster's technical expertise and dedication to campus safety have had a significant impact on Bucknell. Leading the upgrade of the University's fire alarm system to a faster, more reliable fiber network, he saved more than $80,000 in contractor costs while improving emergency responsiveness. His colleagues say his positive attitude and willingness to assist others make him a trusted resource, and his role as a mentor to others strengthens his team.

Whether resolving urgent safety issues, supporting major campus events or responding to after-hours requests, Foerster's commitment to service is unwavering. His work ensures that the Bucknell community is safe, supported and confident in the reliability of its infrastructure. "Tom's top priority has been and always will remain serving the Bucknell community," a nominator wrote. "Tom has worked countless hours to support student events, sporting events and 16-hour days for Commencement and Reunion events. Tom strives to make this campus better in any way he can."

Kevin Zimmerman, labor & grounds specialist

Kevin Zimmerman receives the John F. Zeller Memorial Award for his two decades of dedicated service and proactive campus care that enhance both the safety and beauty of Bucknell. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

With more than two decades of service, Zimmerman approaches his work with a commitment to making Bucknell's campus its best. From revitalizing neglected landscaping to streamlining equipment tracking, his work blends practical problem-solving with an eye for detail. His colleagues praised his collaborative spirit, reporting that he mentors new employees, supports other campus areas when short-staffed and leads large-scale projects, like the collection of 72 loads of autumn leaves. A nominator wrote: "Kevin looks at every day as a new opportunity to accomplish tasks, be it small or large. Every day, he travels from one area to another, keeping an eye out for areas that need a little extra TLC." 

His proactive approach to safety — from removing weeds and addressing pest concerns before events — reflects his thoughtfulness and dedication to the well-being of students, faculty, staff and visitors. At New Student Move-in, Zimmerman is known to go the extra mile to create a welcoming environment for incoming students and their families.

Maxwell Award

The purpose of the Maxwell Award is to acknowledge the exceptional collaborative efforts of cross-functional groups, project teams and task forces that make outstanding contributions to the Bucknell community. This award is named in honor of former Vice President for Administration, Barry R. Maxwell, who, throughout his career, fostered well-planned, collaborative efforts that brought forth the very best from the people involved.

Pay frequency change initiative

Project lead: Jill Taylor, director of payroll 

The Maxwell Award was awarded to Bucknell's payroll team, who successfully guided Bucknell's transition of exempt staff to a biweekly pay schedule. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

Transitioning exempt staff to a biweekly pay schedule was a complex undertaking with wide-reaching implications for payroll, benefits and employee communications. Under Taylor's leadership, the pay frequency change initiative brought together stakeholders from Payroll, the Finance Office; Talent Culture & Human Resources; the Office of the Provost; Bucknell's deans' offices; the Ellen Clarke Bertrand Library; and Information Technology Services. The team approached the change with transparency and responsiveness, hosting open forums, updating FAQs and providing bridge loans to ease the transition. Their careful planning turned a potentially disruptive change into a model of collaborative problem-solving. A nominator wrote: "This transition was no doubt an extremely complicated operation … the communication, collaboration and implementation of this initiative were superb."