GOSHEN, Ind. - Goshen College President Rebecca Stoltzfus awarded the second annual Maple Leaf Awards for Employee Excellence to six employees during an end-of-the-year employee celebration on May 23, and Goshen head women's basketball coach Tyra Carver earned the Inclusive Community Builder Award among all staff and administrative faculty.

The initiative recognizes and celebrates the outstanding contributions of employees, fostering a positive work culture and promoting excellence throughout the college community.

Each award — the Servant Leader Award, the Inclusive Community Builder Award and the Passionate Learner Award — was earned by one teaching faculty member and one staff, professional staff or administrative faculty member.

The Inclusive Community Builder Award recognizes employees who go above and beyond to foster a culture of belonging for all members of the Goshen College community, encouraging others to be their authentic selves. Despite being newer to campus, Carver has already become a powerful advocate for inclusion and connection — on the court, in the classroom and across campus. She has mentored student-athletes and sponsored the Black Student Union, while simultaneously building faculty relationships and athletic engagement. Her engagement efforts have involved creative programs like "Pressure Makes Diamonds" and themed nights, and she is often seen outside of the Rec-Fit Center around campus. Carver leads with intention and heart, and her presence has strengthened the culture of belonging at Goshen, inspiring others to do the same.

The other five winners were:

• Eric Bradley, head librarian for the Mennonite Historical Library (Staff/Administrative Faculty Passionate Learner Award)
• Breanna Nickel, assistant professor of Bible and religion (Teaching Faculty Passionate Learner Award)
• Janine Ostergren, administrative assistant for the education and Deaf studies department (Staff/Administrative Faculty Servant Leader Award)
• Andrew Hartzler, professor of accounting (Teaching Faculty Servant Leader Award)
• Jewel Lehman, professor and department chair of kinesiology (Teaching Faculty Inclusive Community Builder Award)

This year's awardees were selected from nominations by their peers. The teaching faculty nominations were reviewed by a committee led by Ann Vendrely, vice president for academic affairs, which included Susan Setiawan, associate professor of nursing, and prior winners and education professors Brooke Lemmon and Kathy Meyer Reimer. Marlene Penner, director of human resources, led the committee that recommended staff, professional staff and administrative faculty members. That committee included Brian Mast, director of facilities; Tina Neff, assistant director of human resources; and Daniel James, news and media manager.