Celebrating Chris Moss: Calm Under Stage Pressure

We are proud to announce that Christopher (Chris) Moss has been awarded the DoIT Gritty Award for his tireless, high-stakes coordination of UMBC’s Commencement ceremonies and his incredible adaptability under pressure.

Mastering a Zero-Failure Environment

Managing technical operations for six Commencement ceremonies every year is a high-pressure, zero-failure mission. Chris coordinates the team managing the Tassel system (formerly Marching Order), which scans Grad Passes moments before students walk across the stage. This key process triggers the recording of each student's name and displays lower-third graphics on the live stream. Over several years, Chris has continually improved and expanded this system, introducing innovative solutions and vital fail-safes to ensure every graduate gets their well-deserved moment in the spotlight.

Leadership and Clutch Adaptability

While Chris’s technical improvements keep the background running smoothly, his true grit shines through his leadership and cool composure:

• Empowering Staff: This year, Chris successfully empowered staff member Colin Corcoran to lead preparation and on-site coordination duties, remaining available as a steadfast safety net.

• Becoming the "Voice of UMBC": When veteran announcer Tom Moore had a sudden emergency right before a Thursday ceremony, Chris stepped in with zero notice—flawlessly pivoting from technical backup to becoming the literal voice of the afternoon event.

• Unseen Dedication: Behind the spectacle of Commencement, Chris handles intense backstage pressure with absolute professionalism, jumping in to assist with any task, big or small.

For his quiet leadership, constant innovation, and willingness to step up whenever needed, we present Chris Moss with the DoIT Gritty Award. Congratulations, Chris!

About the DoIT Gritty Award

The Gritty Award recognizes outstanding work within the Division and beyond. Full-time employees, student employees, and teams are all eligible. Do you know someone going above and beyond? Complete the Gritty Nomination Form today!

The first draft of this article was generated by GenAI and edited by the Communications Team.