The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Foundation has received a generous gift of $25,000 to establish a new award, the Amodeo Staff Award. Emerita Professor Nancy Amodeo provided the $25,000 endowment to create a permanent annual award to recognize an UMPI staff member for his or her outstanding service to the University.

“Nan was full of admiration for faculty, professional staff, and administrators,” noted University President Don Zillman. “However, she felt that the quiet and continued devotion of hourly employees to the campus community often did not get the recognition it deserved. Nan’s generosity will allow us to honor one of our staff members annually for that kind of dedication.”

Professor Amodeo received a bachelor’s degree from the College of Idaho, a master’s degree from San Francisco State, and her doctorate from Idaho State University. Her career at the University of Maine at Presque Isle began in 1967 and spanned more than 30 years. She was named Emerita Professor at the University in June 1998. As noted in her obituary in October 2010, “Her passion for her students, for the community and for the life of the university sets a standard for excellence for all.”

The Amodeo Staff Award selection committee will include elected representatives of faculty, professional staff, hourly staff, students, community, and administration. President Don Zillman will announce the committee’s selection for the inaugural Amodeo Award at the campus’ 2010 holiday gathering.

“It will be an honor for me to announce the name of the first recipient of the Amodeo Staff Award in December, but bittersweet that Nan is not here to share that moment with us,” said Zillman.