On June 4, colleagues held homemade signs, waved pompoms, and cheered loudly for award recipients in Kresge Auditorium. Twenty individuals and three teams received MIT Excellence Awards ' the Institute's highest honor for staff. Additional honors included the Collier Medal, the Staff Award for Distinction in Service, and the Gordon Y. Billard Award. The Collier Medal honors the memory of MIT police officer Sean Collier, who gave his life in service to the MIT community. Recipients embody a deep commitment to community and approach their work with compassion for others. The Staff Award for Distinction in Service is presented to an individual who approaches their work with kindness, empathy, and approachability, and serves as a trusted adviser at the Institute. The Gordon Y. Billard Award is given to staff or faculty members, or MIT-affiliated individuals, who make "significant and lasting contributions to the MIT community." The 2026 Collier Medal recipient was Michael Grenier, pub...
learn more
