On May 21, 2025, SAPA Members and Honored Guests gathered to recognize and celebrate extraordinary public servants who embody the core of what SAPA represents and honor their excellence in furthering outstanding public service.
Honorees at the 13th annual Public Service Excellence Awards included:
- New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli who received the Nelson A. Rockefeller Award for Distinguished Public Service
- 5 Individual Excellence Awardees, including the Robert D. McEvoy Excellence in Local Government Service Award and Arnold L. Steigman PhD Excellence in Teaching Award
- Karen Geduldig, NYS Department of Taxation and Finance
- Janet Braga, NYS Archives Partnership Trust
- George Gorman, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
- Phil Church, Oswego County Administrator
- J. Christopher Mihm, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
- 3 Team Awards
- NYS Information Technology Services – RelativityOne TeamNYS Department of Taxation and Finance – Direct File Development Team
- NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation – Grants Bureau
- 37 Graduates of SAPA’s Stephen L. Schechter Essentials in Public Service Leadership Program
The SAPA Board would like to recognize and thank the Public Service Excellence Awards Review Committee who review nominations and make award recommendations to the Board:
- Joan Sullivan, Chair
- Ruth Walters
- Amanda Lester
- Joe Seymour
- Wayne Diesel
- Mark Hiller
Making this event possible is truly a team effort. The SAPA Board would like to thank Dean Novkov and our partners at Rockefeller College, and the administration and staff of the University at Albany, particularly the team at ETEC for their assistance and support. We are also appreciative to the event co-host, the AGA, as well as the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society, the NYS Forum, NYSICA, NYSAC and NYCOM.
Galleries
Click the photos below for galleries of various aspects of the 2025 Public Service Excellence Awards Event as well as details about award recipients in each category.
New York State Academy for Public Administration (SAPA) 