Margaret Wingard, sponsored research coordinator at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), Prairie Research Institute, has received the 2016 University of Illinois SPaRC Outstanding Service Award for her support of research administration.

The 2016 Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance (SPaRC) annual award was presented to four staff members who have advanced the field of research administration or through innovation have improved a specific process at the university, college, center, or department level that led to increased efficiencies in the administration of research.

Wingard was hired at the INHS in 2001. From fiscal years 2012 to 2015, Wingard submitted an average of 106 proposals annually, requesting an average of $21.3 million per year. She streamlined the proposal process so that researchers could apply for grants more efficiently.

Award recipients were recognized at the SPaRC retreat on September 16, 2016.

In 2015, Torie Strole, grants and contracts coordinator, also of the Prairie Research Institute, received the SPaRC Outstanding Service Award.