Friday is the last day for faculty and staff to nominate colleagues for the Michael R. Ferrari Award.

This spring selection committee will choose the award’s 10th recipient.

Dr. Newell Williams, president of Brite Divinity School and a member of the committee since its inception, said the award was intended to recognize faculty and staff who reflected Ferrari’s commitment to strategic planning in higher education.

“It’s something over and above your duties. It’s not excellence in what you’re supposed to do but excellence in something even beyond what you’re supposed to do,” Williams said. 

Williams said the award is often episodic and given to someone who has led the university in a project that served a need or solved a problem.

“It’s not for being an excellent teacher,” he said. “It’s not for mentoring. It’s not for being a great staff member. These are things we recognize in other awards.”

Previous award winners have included Will Stallworth, associate vice chancellor for facilities, and the late Jose Feghali, artist-in-residence and music professor, who died in December.

Stallworth oversaw expansive construction and renovation, transforming TCU’s campus into what it is today.

“What he did in those years is far beyond what one would expect from anyone hired to oversee maintenance and facilities on a campus. He was building buildings all over the place. And with amazing success and remarkable knowledge,” Williams said of Stallworth.

Feghali was awarded in 2006 for his work using Internet2 technology by conducting classes that gave students an opportunity to learn from professionals across the country.

“This guy knew computers as well as keyboards,” Williams said. “When you look at any professor, certainly those who are like him and are remarkably gifted and remarkably committed to their students, their legacy is in their students and it’s out there for years and years and years.”

Williams said the committee will meet soon to discuss the nominations and decide on finalists, and the committee usually only meets once. Chancellor Victor Boschini has the final vote.

“If it’s like previous years, there will be a handful of nominations and it will not be an easy decision,” Williams said.

The award was created by the Board of Trustees to honor Ferrari’s legacy. Williams said Ferrari was a brilliant educational strategist. Ferrari has remained interested in TCU since his retirement in 2003.

Williams said that a couple years ago Brite hired its first Brite professor of Episcopal Studies. When Dr. Ferrari, an Episcopalian, learned about the hire, he wrote a letter to the new professor wishing him well and raving about the excellence of Brite and TCU.

“Is that not cool? So, this is the kind of guy we’re honoring. We’re honoring the guy who, in his retirement, pays attention to what’s happening on this campus and takes the time to write a letter to a new professor and wish him well in his work,” he said.

The award recipient will be announced at the spring Service and Retirement Recognition Awards Program.