A night of celebration as Waikato Staff Excellence Awards spotlight outstanding achievements

Rachel Tan says she never has to “drag her feet” to work, a testament to how much she enjoys her role as a lecturer at the University of Waikato. 

A member of Te Piringa Faculty of Law, Ms Tan was “gobsmacked” to receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal at the annual Staff Excellence Awards held at The Pā on Thursday. 

The annual awards are a reminder of the exceptional talent, hard work and positive impact University staff have on students, the University community, and each other.  

This year marked a milestone with the Awards hosted in The Pā for the first time.  

Dr Rachel Tan and Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley

With 54 nominations, it was an evening that allowed staff, families, and friends to gather and celebrate the achievements of the nominees and winners.  

Ms Tan was one of eight award recipients considered for the overall honour of the medal, selected by Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley and the committee.  

“It’s always very difficult to go through the list of people who have received awards and choose one to receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal from among the different award winners,” Professor Quigley said.  

He said Ms Tan had earned widespread respect for her capacity to connect with others in ways that have profound and positive outcomes. Known for her unwavering support of both staff and students, she consistently goes above and beyond providing guidance, reassurance and practical solutions in even the most complex situations.  

Professor Quigley described Ms Tan as being a standout and a true embodiment of staff excellence, upholding the University’s values in everything she does and visibly contributing to the implementation of the University’s strategies in many ways. 

Ms Tan had earlier won the Early Career Academic Excellence Award, having been nominated for being instrumental in growing Law in Tauranga by driving student recruitment, engagement and retention.  

Staff Excellence Awards held at The Pā on Thursday

The nomination also said Ms Tan combines innovative teaching methods with practical insights, earning overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and colleagues alike.  

It said her efforts have strengthened pathways into the profession and contributed directly to the success of the Law programme in Tauranga.    

The University’s awards also recognised a number of other staff who have made significant contributions over the last year: