The Most Valuable Panther (MVP) program recognizes employees who embody the university’s standards for innovation as demonstrated by their passion, dedication, and excellent service.

Florida Tech’s MVP Winner - April 2025

Catherine Gonzales came to Florida Tech in 2012 as the Residential Property Manager for Panther Bay and now serves as Residence Life Coordinator. In her twelve years of service, Catherine has exemplified outstanding customer service to both on campus residents and co-workers. She decorates the offices and common areas for each of the different seasons and holidays and is a listening ear for students who need to talk out a problem, regularly assisting them with projects and programs.

As someone with strong project management experience, she brings that skillset to all of the initiatives and projects she undertakes for residence life. She holds herself to the highest standards, and brings out the same in her colleagues and students. Since taking the Residence Life Coordinator role, Catherine has spearheaded several sustainability initiatives for residence life, working to find multiple solutions for the department to replace single use options that are not sustainable. She has assisted the resident directors in identifying facilities needs within the residence halls improving the experience of the residents who live there.

Catherine is student focused. She took the lead in helping students implement Global Bites during Panther Week, a program designed to experience food from countries around the world, along with cultural history and matching decorations. The entire Quad decorated for this event which saw over 350 students in attendance. In addition to the extra time prepping for the event, she also went above and beyond, cooking for her own display at Global Bites.

Catherine cares about her co-workers. She recently took the lead on doing a baby shower for a colleague, where she cooked, made decorations and created games. All this and more makes Catherine Gonzalez our Most Valuable Panther.

MVP Award Criteria

A nominee for the MVP award may be a full- or part-time employee and meet these basic requirements in order to be eligible:

• Must have been employed at Florida Tech for no less than one full year
• Cannot have been selected as MVP within the prior 12 months
• Has no documented corrective action on file with HR within the past six months

Any eligible employee may be nominated more than once, however, will only be eligible to win the award once within a twelve (12) month period.

To be considered, a nominee must have demonstrated extraordinary service to the university during the 60 days prior to their nomination. Examples of contributions that may warrant MVP honors include:

• An outstanding accomplishment with significant benefit to the Florida Tech community
• Extraordinary service to colleagues and/or external community members
• Demonstrating exceptional leadership and/or initiative
• Exemplary efforts to nurture a climate of care, concern and civility
• Creative innovations to service, process, or work tools
• Exhibiting and modeling a relentlessly positive attitude toward work responsibilities, co-workers and customers
• Extraordinary commitment to quality
• Taking initiative and embracing responsibilities beyond regular job assignments

MVP Award Nomination Procedure

Nominations may be made by anyone with an active affiliation with the university (i.e. staff, faculty, administrator, student worker). The nominator does not have to be the nominee's supervisor or superior; however, the nominator must have direct knowledge of the employee’s contributions.

1. Complete the MVP nomination form
2. Submit to MVP nominating committee by the 15th day of the month

MVP Selection Committee and Process

The vice president of human resources makes the initial appointment of MVP Committee members.

1. The MVP reviews nominations and selects a monthly winner based on the aforementioned criteria. (If a committee member is nominated, they will be excused from voting that month.)
2. Nominees are evaluated using a point system, and the highest scoring nominee wins. In the case of a tie, one name from among the highest scorers will be drawn at random to determine a winner.
3. The MVP Committee has the right to verify nomination materials with the nominee’s supervisor.
4. Nominees who do not receive the award for the month in which they have been nominated do not remain in the nomination pool, but they may be nominated again for reconsideration.

MVP Award Benefits

The MVP of any given month wins:

• A designated MVP parking space for the month during normal business hours
• A short write-up recognizing the MVP in the Florida Tech Weekly enewsletter