Celebrating Excellence - Grand Prize Winners, Honor Roll from Empower ÎçÒıAV Incentive Program now available

July 25, 2025

The News: An “Honor Roll” of all the recipients of an Empower ÎçÒıAV Incentive is now online, showcasing the incredible work UA employees do to make a meaningful difference for students.  

  • Why It Matters: UA employees across the system are doing amazing work, and more than 650 incentive awards were given out across the system to recognize those efforts. 

Quick Program Overview: Employees were recognized for in 3 categories for work that’s made a meaningful difference at UA:

  • Innovation that improves operations
  • Exceptional service to students
  • Actions that reflect the values of the Regents’ Roadmap to Empower ÎçÒıAV

Catch Up Quick: Earlier this week, President Pitney announced the names of 4 UA employees who won Grand Prizes of $5,000 from the Empower ÎçÒıAV Incentive Award pilot program. 

  • Jessica Salas (UAA) helped develop a new UA transfer credit process in Banner. The new process greatly eases the crunch between semester end and the start of the next semester, which translates into quicker service to students and academic advisors serving those students. 
  • Ashley Munro (UAF) helped facilitate PIT Crew training and develop a strategic plan for the Registrar's office. These improvements to the Registrar’s workflows make academic record-keeping more efficient and accessible for students and faculty. The work also achieved considerable cost savings efficiencies, as well as helped UAF modernize countless student processes, saving critical time and resources. 
  • Bernard (Bernie) Yadao (UAS) pulled double duty, keeping the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems running and performing services above and beyond his position's scope. By stepping up to provide these highly skilled services, he saved UAS tens of thousands of dollars by eliminating the need to hire independent contractors. And he did it all with a great attitude and display of character. 
  • Kolene James (UAS) provides support and guidance for AK Native students in Juneau and via distance. Her focus on healing through education, harvesting, and community grows leaders and provides a nurturing environment for Indigenous People at our university, and has contributed greatly to our goals for increasing enrollment of Indigenous students.

The Background: Earlier this year, UA launched the Empower ÎçÒıAV Incentive Program as a pilot initiative with the support of the Board of Regents. The program offers financial recognition for employees who provide exceptional service to students, identify organizational efficiencies and support achievement of BOR goals.

  • Zoom Out: The Board of Regents directed UA leadership to develop a pilot recognition program in response to employee feedback in last year’s engagement survey, and to recognize outstanding work by employees in support of our mission.

All regular, benefit-eligible employees with at least six months of service were eligible for the awards, with a recognition award of between $100 and $1,000 being distributed per recipient. All nominations required supervisor approval and were reviewed by leadership.

Go Deeper: Check out the Incentive Program website for additional information, and take a look at some of the great things that staff and faculty are doing across the system.