Top Techsan Award

The Texas Tech Alumni Association (formerly the Ex-Students Association) created the “Top Techsan Staff Award” in 1973.

Only full-time, non-faculty employees are eligible for consideration. They must have two or more years of service with the university as of May the year a nomination is submitted. Nominations are accepted from current faculty, staff or students. Although not a requirement, recipients of previous campus awards are eligible.

Selections are made based on completed nomination forms that emphasize extraordinary work proficiency and an attitude of team spirit within the Texas Tech family. While extensive campaigning for a nominee is discouraged, letters of support are helpful in the committee’s evaluation of a candidate’s overall nomination packet.

Selections are based on the nomination form and supporting data which fulfill the outlined criteria:

  • Brief summary of the nominee's job responsibilities
  • Description of extraordinary work proficiency and team spirit

Specific examples of how the employee has exceeded the expectation of his/her job by exhibiting outstanding customer service, creating an environment of improved efficiency, and/or productivity, etc.

Letters of support and a resume are accepted in the nomination packet. Download the nomination form (pdf).

The deadline for submitting nominations is Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Please send forms and supporting documents to:

Top Techsan Awards
Texas Tech Alumni Association
MS 5001 (campus mail) or P.O. Box 45001, Lubbock, Texas 79409-5001

Forms and supporting documents can also be submitted via email to Sara Lauderdale. Contact Sara at 806-742-3641 for assistance.

Honorees will be recognized at the Top Techsan Awards Luncheon, October 11, 2013, during the university’s annual Homecoming celebration. Four honorees will receive a plaque and a cash award of $500 during the presentations.

2012 Recipients

Katherine “Kathy” Austin Beltz, Ph.D., assistant vice president of the Information Technology Division. Beltz is recognized as a “true ‘Top Techsan’ who has given her heart, passion and impeccable work ethic to Texas Tech for the last 20-plus years.” She is known for communicating complex technical information in an easy-to-understand way.

Margaret “Margie” Ceja, academic adviser in the Edward E. Whitacre College of Engineering’s Department of Construction Engineering. Ceja is recognized for exhibiting outstanding customer service skills by serving students with “dedication, concern and empathy.” She has worked at Texas Tech for more than 10 years and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree.

Beccy Hambright, Ph.D., program manager in the Edward E. Whitacre College of Engineering’s T-STEM Center. She is recognized for possessing strong leadership skills and is known to “finish the job right the first time,” and to have a “can-do attitude.” Hambright is also lauded for putting first the educational experiences of students and schools involved in the T-STEM program. She has worked for Texas Tech since 1991.

Shannon Hutchison, unit manager in the Edward E. Whitacre College of Engineering’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Texas Tech Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation. He is recognized for going above and beyond his daily responsibilities, allowing students to contact him after hours and on weekends. He is known for treating everyone with respect, whether they are faculty, staff, student or service personnel. He has worked at Texas Tech for 11 years.