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2020 Vice President's Meritorious Awards & William Paul Ricker Distinguished Service Award Winners Announced    

May 27, 2020


By Andréa Bolt, Communications Specialist, Division of Marketing & Communications

Texas A&M University at Galveston is pleased to announce the 2020 staff and faculty recognized for their meritorious service to the university through the Vice President’s Meritorious Service Awards and the William Paul Ricker Distinguished Faculty and Staff Awards. 

Recipients of these prestigious awards have demonstrated their commitment to the Aggie Core Values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service. 

The William Paul Ricker Award award recognizes outstanding achievement in teaching, research and student relations and honors the late William Paul Ricker, who tragically passed away while serving as Corps Commander at the Texas A&M Maritime Academy in 1974. Mr. R. Paul Ricker left provisions in his will for the establishment of the William Paul Ricker Memorial Endowment Fund. Each year, $4,000 from the endowment is used to recognize one outstanding faculty and one outstanding staff member, who are awarded $2,000 each, as well as a watch and commemorative plaque.

Dr. Wesley Highfield
Dr. Wesley Highfield

Associate Professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science Dr. Wesley Highfield and Senior Administrative Coordinator for the Center for Texas Beaches & Shores Ms. Cherie Coffman have been chosen as the 2020 recipients of the prestigious William Paul Ricker Award. 

Cherie Coffman
Cherie Coffman

Next, the Vice President’s Meritorious Service Award recognized recipients in four categories. Each winner receives $750 and a commemorative plaque. 

This year, Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Liberal Studies Dr. Kristin Josvoll, has been recognized in the Outstanding Classroom Teaching category. Recognized for Outstanding Staff Service is both Executive Director of Human Resources Jeff Boyer and Seibel Learning Center Program Coordinator Krista McBrien. The winner in the Outstanding Student Relations category is Associate Director of Counseling and Career Services Daisey McCloud, and SSC Custodial Manager Michelle Kirkland has won in the Outstanding Services category. 

“I’m thrilled to recognize and award the incredible work ethic of these staff and faculty members,” said Texas A&M-Galveston Chief Operating Officer Col. Michael E. Fossum ‘80. “The way in which they live out our Aggie Core Values is commendable and sets an example for everyone on our campus.”

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Media contact:
Andréa Bolt
Communications Specialist
a_bolt@tamug.edu



Texas A&M University at Galveston is the marine and maritime branch campus of Texas A&M University which educates nearly 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students in science, business, engineering, liberal arts and transportation. It is driving the development of the blue economy in the Gulf Coast Region and is a critical contributor to Texas A&M's rare land-, sea-, space-grant mission with nearly $10 million in research expenditures.

Texas A&M-Galveston is also home to the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, one of six state maritime academies and the only one in the southern United States, which trains over 400 cadets annually for maritime service and employment around the world.

Texas A&M-Galveston is located in Galveston, Texas on the Gulf Coast where it is surrounded by industry, environment and programs essential to fulfilling its special-purpose mission. Aggies are known for their deep commitment to the success of each other and their strong desire to serve.