Celebrating Excellence: 2026 Staff Awards

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 Aug. 17. 

The John F. Zeller Memorial Award for Support Staff Excellence 

Scott Kline, Labor/Grounds Specialist

Kline's 27 years of dedicated service have improved and strengthened the Bucknell community. Throughout his tenure, he has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the University and has made meaningful contributions that have had a positive impact on campus. Kline's colleagues note that his actions regularly extend well beyond his job responsibilities, and his conscientious and dependable nature make him someone who can always be counted on. While much of his work happens behind the scenes, he plays a pivotal role in making sure the University runs effectively and smoothly. 

 

Jeff Halkowicz, Mail Services/Delivery Driver 

Halkowicz embodies a selfless, university-first spirit and consistently goes above and beyond to support the Bucknell community. He has earned a reputation for stepping in wherever help is needed, even outside of his regular job responsibilities, such as was the case when he manually transported thousands of high-priority financial aid letters to help another department overcome a significant logistical challenge.

He plays a critical role in strengthening collaboration across campus by cross-training in print, mail and graphic services and by welcoming and mentoring new team members to help ensure their long-term success. "His initiative, willingness to share his knowledge and focus on teamwork make him an invaluable member of the Bucknell community," one nominator wrote. Beyond his work ethic, his colleagues say that "his dedication to serving others, combined with his cheerful demeanor and commitment to Bucknell," make him a pleasure to work with.

The Walter C. Geiger Memorial Award

Tim Kracker, University Registrar

Kracker consistently puts the University first, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to Bucknell's students and operations. For several years, he voluntarily assumed the responsibilities of his former associate registrar position while continuing to fulfill his own demanding role, ensuring a seamless transition and uninterrupted service during a critical time. His initiative to align academic misconduct software across multiple divisions helped streamline processes and eliminate the need for costly, redundant systems, resulting in greater operational and financial efficiency for the University.

"Above all," one nominator wrote, "Tim is a compassionate, student-centered leader. Whether personally reaching out to students who have not yet registered for classes or ensuring that graduates with service dogs are fully supported during Commencement, he consistently goes the extra mile to create an inclusive and caring environment." His colleagues say that his leadership, dedication and commitment to serving students make him an outstanding member of the Bucknell team.

 

Chelsey Lehman, Student Success Coordinator, College of Arts & Sciences

Lehman's dedication and willingness to go above and beyond have benefited countless students across campus. While her formal responsibilities hinge on supporting first-year and sophomore students, she volunteers her time by continuing to mentor juniors and seniors who need the support up through graduation, providing them with both guidance and encouragement throughout their academic journeys. Her commitment to students routinely extends beyond the bounds of the traditional workday and, as one nominator wrote, she "willingly sacrifices evenings, weekends, and university holiday breaks to provide timely support to students navigating significant personal and academic challenges. "

Beyond supporting individual students, her selflessness, compassion and advocacy inspired a major donor gift that fully funded a new executive functioning coaching program, creating a lasting resource that will benefit Bucknell students for years to come. 

Maxwell Award

Shared Governance

Over the course of three years, the Shared Governance Implementation Committee (SGI) navigated complex challenges, significant political differences and extensive campus-wide feedback to implement a historic and highly inclusive shared governance framework for Bucknell University. With extraordinary teamwork, persistence and commitment, this cross-functional team of faculty, staff and students successfully developed a shared vision and built broad campus support for a new governance model. 

Throughout this years long process, the committee "demonstrated exceptional transparency by regularly communicating with the campus community, actively seeking feedback, and thoughtfully adapting the proposal based on the input received." One nominator said that, "their willingness to listen, evolve and remain responsive fostered trust and strengthened the final outcome," ultimately earning approval from all four major university constituencies. For the first time, staff voices have been integrated into institutional decision-making, ensuring that "SGI has fundamentally transformed how Bucknell will govern itself and collaborate for generations to come."

Commencement Safety and Security

The proactive measures of the safety and security team cultivated a safe and secure environment at the 2026 Commencement ceremony. One nominator wrote that, "Public Safety, and all the people that made this happen," deserve recognition for going above and beyond. The safety and security team, which also included representatives from Events Management, Marketing & Communications, Student Affairs and other divisions, led the implementation of new safety measures at Commencement, including security screening and a clear bag policy, to ensure the event took place not just safely, but smoothly and with all the excitement and pomp befitting a Bucknell Commencement.