Background Image Alternative Text: Zacharias Award recipients

Zacharias Awards

Donald W. Zacharias

Distinguished Staff Award

Named in honor of Mississippi State University’s 15th president, this award recognizes staff members who exemplify dedication, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence. Honorees have made significant contributions to their departments and the university community, fostering a positive workplace and advancing MSU’s mission.

Below is a list of our award winners.

2026 Zacharias Award Winners

Front row, from left, Donna Reese, MaryAnn Latham, Tracy Wilcox, (Keenum), Rhonda Hannah, Delaney Foster and Brentson Hall; back row, from left, Mark Hall, Paige White, Alexis Hamilton, Brittany Adams, Ashlee Reed and Zack Ivy. (Photo by Grace Cockrell)

 

 

2026 Professional

2026 Support Staff

Delaney Foster

Director - Office of Innovation & Excellence

Brittany Adams

ICU Technician l - CVM Clinical Science Department

Alexis Hamilton

Extension Agent - MSU Extension - Sharkey County

Brenston Hall

Veterinary Assistant - CVM Clinical Science Department

Rhonda Hannah

Business Manager l - Biological Sciences

Ashlee Reed

Animal Health Tech l - CVM Clinical Science Department

Zack Ivy

Facilities Coordinator - North MS Research & Extension Center

Donna Reese

Custodian ll - Custodial Services

MaryAnn Latham

Program & Grand Development Specialist - MAFES Administration

Paige White

Administrative Assistant l - CVM Pathobiology/Population Med Dep.

Mark Hall

Research Associate ll - Pontotoc Ridge - Flatwoods Branch Exp. Station

Tracy Wilcox

Administrative Assistant l - Physics & Astronomy
 

2025 Professional

2025 Support Staff

Latara Arterberry

Extension Specialist l - Biochemistry, Nutrition & Health Promotion

Asha Bolton

Animal Health Technician - CVM Clinical Science Department

Amy Burchfield

Director, Reporting, Planning & Analysis - Office of Controller and Treasurer

Casey Broom

Veterinary Assistant Manager - Animal Emergency & Referral Center

Emily Cain

Director of Academic Relations - Curriculum & Advising - College of Arts and Sciences

Mai Dang

Administrative Assistant - Human Sciences - Early Childhood

Magan Green

Laboratory Manager - Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory

Connie Darden

Office Associate - River County

Michelle Martin

Business Manager l - Geosciences

Lisa Hearn

Administrative Assistant ll - MSU Foundation

Vicki Vaughn

Assistant Director and Fiscal Administrator - MSU - Extension/Director's Office

Sharon Vaughan

Business Coordinator -  Agricultural Science and Plant Protection
 

2024 Professional

2024 Support Staff

Raymond Brooks

Executive Director-Colvard Student Union and Event Services

Lisa Conner

Surgery Operating Room Circulator Supervisor, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

Timothy Hopkins

Executive Director-Holmes Center for Student Success

Verleen Grey

Operator, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

Chuan-Yu Hsu

Senior Research Associate, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology

Eric Henderson

Custodian, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Christine Jackson

Senior Associate A.D./Student-Athlete Support Services and Executive Director of Athletic Academics

Sherri Lowe

Business Coordinator, Coastal Research and Extension Center, Crosby Arboretum

Justin Sanchez

Community Director, Department of Housing and Residence Life

Jolanta Raczynska

Horticulture Crew Member III, Campus Landscape Services

David Saucier

Research Engineer II, Athlete Engineering Institute and Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems

Cardia Williams

Head Start teacher, School of Human Sciences, Head Start

2023 Professional

2023 Support Staff

Clifton Hester

Senior Software Project Manager, nSPARC

Brenda Carol Clark

Office Associate, Northwest Mississippi Extension Forestry Office

Sheryl Kinard

Business Manager II, College of Arts and Sciences

Lisa Dye

Business Coordinator, Department of Athletics’ Sports Medicine and Performance unit

Jenny Ryals

Research Associate II, South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station

Elizabeth Nicholson

Administrative Assistant to the Vice President, Office of Research and Economic Development

Julie Sims

Project Manager, International Institute

Douglas Shaw

Engineering Technician, Prairie Research Unit

Lola "Tookie" Walker

Academic Records Coordinator, Office of the Registrar

Jenny Shook

Events Coordinator, Division of Development and Alumni

Linda "Christine" Williams

Assistant Director, Disability Resource Center and ACCESS program

Gina M. Studley

Inventory Control Assistant, Air Force ROTC

2022 Professional

2022 Support Staff

Sonya Baird

Kathy Breland

Latoya Brown

Chris Cliett

Kara Herman

Lisa McReynolds

Jack McCarty

Darlene Perkins

Emily Owen

Lynn Taylor

Heather Rowe

Katelyn Wright

2021 Professional

2021 Support Staff

Tim Allison

Kamicca Brown-Lott

Donna Belliech

Darlene Bush

Tracy Craven

Elizabeth Havelin

Kylie Crosland

Myra Keasler

Tina Green

Kate Sawaya

Alex Shook

Bonner Whittington

2019 Professional

2019 Support Staff

Julie Capella

Cathy Evans

Marc Measells

Margaret Dotson

Wayne Philley

Judy Hammett

Amelia Rogers

Colby Pennington

Ken Stewart

Debra Price

Vemitra White

Debbie Wade

2018 Professional

2018 Support Staff

John Michael VanHorn

Deborah Brewington

Dana Cooper

Karrie Files

Katie Corban

Joni Branning

Beth Hancock

Tiffney Williams

Elizabeth Miller

Suzanne Parker

Teresa Stewart

Adra Morgan

2017 Professional

2017 Support Staff

Amy Adkerson

Ericka Bazzill

Cliff Covington

Jeremy Hamilton

Scott Langlois

Quintara Miller

Ashley N. Meredith

Ken Palmer

Tommy Parker

Ann Ray

Carmen Wilder

Jennifer Robertson

2016 Professional

2016 Support Staff

Diane Alexander

Frank Fulton

Ra’Sheda Forbes

Madeline Golden

Meggan Franks

Trudy Jones

Kim Kavalsky

Terri Snead

Jesse Morrison

John Vowell

Adam Rohnke

Carol Young

2015 Professional

2015 Support Staff

Beth Baker

Ruby Lynn Carter

JuLeigh Baker

Anthony "Bubba" Forrester

Jennifer Easley

Becky Hill

Ann Sansing

Donna Maykowski

Jan Walton

Linda Miller

Anita Webb

Daisy Wiggins

2014 Professional

2014 Support Staff

Joseph "Dallas" Breen

Jennifer Carruth

LaDonna Bullman

Sharon Hankins

Delores Hudson

Mary Franklin

Chance McDavid

Terry Johnson

Jacqueline Mullen

Bonnie Ladner

Dennis Sankovich

 Cynthia Ward

2013 Professional

2013 Support Staff

Anna Dill

Lisa Noffsinger

Charlotte Tabereaux

Gail Maddox

Ronnie White

Gail Bishop

Dan Coleman

Phillip Allen

Angela Waller

Ann "Effie" Hopkins

Sharon Womack

Dorothy Cannon

2012 Professional

2012 Support Staff

David Brand

Danette Barrier

Kenneth Graves

Marva Faye Clark

Bricklee Miller

Deidre Edwards

Calvin Mosley

Judith Goodman

Janie Cirlot-New

Aretina Hankerson

Mary Vaughn

William "Vic" Nickels

2011

Sandy WIlliamson

Straton Karatassos

Bill Hamrick

Sherry Fisackerly

Joy Odom

Nicole Ivancic

2010

Kacey Strickland

Reatha Linley

Brenda Edwards

Lindy Young

Carol White

2009

Mike White

Wiliam Sansing

Carol White

Matthew Capella

Priscilla Brown

2008

Laura Walling

Diane Dorroh

Janet Ames

Stacy Parkes

Mitchell Turner

Clytee "QT" James

2007

Larry Templeton

John Tomlinson

Jane Lewis

Brenda Grebner

Ricky Brock

Wilma Clark

2006

Vance Watson

Elaine Reed

Sheila Coleman

Vaness Collier

Jimmy Rice

Curtis Bishop

2005

Joe Farris

Frances Walker

Bonnie Knight

Joe MacGown

Marvell Howard

Jennie Carr

2004

Roy Ruby

Traci Campbell

L. Carl Brown

Janine Davis

Glen Flurry

Everett Kennard

2003

Mehrzad Netadj

Dale Welch

Janna Morgan Flint

Jan Wells

Myron Johnson

Blake Garrard

2002

Ron Brown

Peggy Branch

Willie Johnson

Peggy Bonner

Dwight Dempsey

Carl Blair

2001

Ida Cunetto

Lillian Wade

Sara Valentine

Rosalind Wynn

Frank Gwin, Jr.

Gerald Whatley

2000

Nancy Cox

Sammy McDavid

Beverly Smith

Bess Bragg

C.L. Hollingshed

Jerry Odom

1999

Bill Broyles

Dean Bateman

Sherre Denson

Debra Fairbrother

Roger Johnston

Doug Dumas

1998

Rodney Foil

Bennet George

Pat Bane

Cathy Oswalt

Scott Lipsey

Donna Arnold

1997

Maridith Geuder

Susan Brown

Nell Crowe

Ruth Gann

Cloyd Robinson

Lurine Gillespie

1996

Ralph Powe

Greg Hallman

Ben Ardahl

Gloria Blankenship

John Odom

Joyce Blair

1995

Charlie Scoggins

Fred Faulk

Emma Armstrong

Connie Jackson

Doug Shivers

William Cole