Workforce Relations Lead Maddie Amundson and Human Resources (HR) Generalist Milu Canicoba were nominated for the Employee Champion Award at the campuswide HR@UW awards event held Nov. 12, 2025. The Employee Champion Award recognizes UW-Madison employees who consistently deliver exceptional service to internal customers and go above and beyond to support the HR campus community.
According to Miranda Sve, FP&M Interim Human Resources Director, both nominations highlight the nominees’ consistent support for employees. Specifically, Maddie was nominated for her empathetic, employee-centered advocacy for FP&M HR, while Milu was recognized for her work on multi-shift, multilingual Workday sessions, support of Spanish-speaking employees, and teamwork mentality.
“We are all lucky to work with such competent and caring HR pros like Milu and Maddie,” said Miranda. “Their award nomination reflects the quality of their work and the genuine care they have for all FP&M employees. They set a high standard of excellence and truly are employee champions.”
Miranda explained that Milu’s support extends beyond her job responsibilities. She frequently uses her bilingual skills to assist Spanish-speaking employees, not because it is required, but because she genuinely cares about their experience. In addition to her regular duties, Milu dedicated 30 classroom hours to bilingual support and consistently attended weekly meetings with the Office of Human Resources (OHR) workgroup.
“Milu champions every employee, regardless of background, language, or access,” said Anna Vembu Julian, OHR Interim Associate Director for Communications, Communications Manager. “She ensures that HR is not just a department, but a source of support, dignity, and opportunity.”
Milu shared that being nominated for this award reminded her of the purpose behind her work and inspired her to keep showing up with the same energy every day. She also said that, for her, it’s not only about doing her job but also about creating a space where people feel valued and cared for.
“Being nominated makes me feel proud and grateful because it shows the values I hold — empathy, respect, and collaboration — are making an impact,” said Milu.
Logan Strander, an FP&M Transportation Services employee who nominated Maddie for the award, said that Maddie’s impact on employees is felt on a personal level.
“Maddie always seems to find an answer to improve the outcome of problems and puts others in a position to be successful in their jobs,” Logan said.
Logan said Maddie was helpful in working with him to strategize creative tools and resources to help him be successful at his job. This ended up strengthening both his work performance and overall mental health.
Maddie noted that working in Workforce Relations can be challenging, but her priority always stays the same: to be a trusted and supportive resource for all employees.
“Receiving the HR@UW Employee Champion nomination was a powerful reminder that the work I do not only makes a difference in individual moments but can also create a lasting impact,” said Maddie.