Awards & Accolades

Image

Image

Image

Image

UAPD named VETS Indexes 4-Star Employer

The University of Arizona Police Department has been designated a 4-Star Employer in the 2023 VETS Indexes Employer Awards. The designation recognizes the University's commitment to recruiting, hiring, retaining, developing and supporting military veterans and the military-connected community.

This year marks the first time UAPD has been recognized as a 4-Star Employer. The department, which has 16 veterans on the force, was recognized as a 3-Star Employer in 2021 and 2022. VETS Indexes rates qualified organizations as Recognized Employers, 3-Star Employers, 4-Star Employers or 5-Star Employers, which is the highest level.

New York-based VETS Indexes rates organizations based on surveys those organizations fill out providing data in five categories: veteran job candidate recruiting and hiring; veteran employee development and retention; veteran-inclusive policies and culture; support for members of the National Guard and reserves; and military spouse/family support.

VETS Indexes provides custom indexes for investors, financial exchanges and asset managers, focusing on companies that are strong veteran employers. The company says a record 239 organizations submitted information for this year's awards. The winners were announced in April at the Employing U.S. Vets Conference in New York City.

NASA honors Marcia and George Rieke

Marcia and George Rieke, Regents Professors of astronomy, have each been recognized with NASA Distinguished Public Service Medals for their contributions to the field of astronomy and their key roles in the development of cutting-edge instruments for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The medals are the highest distinction the agency awards to nongovernmental personnel.

Marcia Rieke – as the principal investigator who led the development of JWST's Near Infrared Camera, or NIRCam – has demonstrated unparalleled dedication and leadership, according to her nomination for the medal. In his capacity as the science team lead for JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI, George Rieke facilitates international collaboration among 10 European countries and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

In addition to the Riekes, University alumna Jane Rigby, who serves as the operations project scientist for JWST, was honored with the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for her scientific contributions and leadership.

The three were recognized in May during a ceremony at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

Read more about the honors in a story posted on the University of Arizona News website.

University wins several Telly Awards

Multiple University of Arizona projects have won 2023 Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television.

The 2023 winners, announced in May, are below.

UArizona Student to Compete on 'LEGO Masters'
University of Arizona
Silver Telly in the branded content/general/entertainment category

"Bear Down, Arizona" Fight Song
University of Arizona
Bronze Telly in the branded content/general/educational institution category

Astronaut Training | Center for Human Space Exploration
University of Arizona
Bronze Telly in the branded content/general/science and technology category

Tucson Humanities Festival: Storytelling
College of Humanities
Silver Telly in the branded content/general/events category
Bronze People's Telly in the branded content/general category

Humanities Is
College of Humanities
Bronze Telly in the branded content/general/D&I category

The Value of the Humanities
College of Humanities
Bronze Telly in the branded content/general/educational institution

The University of Arizona award-winning videos were directed by Arlene Islas, video communications manager in the Office of University Communications. The award-winning videos from the College of Humanities were overseen by Nate Mehr, digital marketing manager.

Student Unions honored for food allergy innovation

Arizona Dining at the Arizona Student Unions has won the 2023 Best Food Allergy Innovation for Universities award from MenuTrinfo, a company that provides resources and training on food allergies, gluten-free offerings and other food safety topics to food service companies and food manufacturers.

Christine Carlson, director of dining and nutrition at Arizona Student Unions, says Arizona Dining was recognized for efforts including the opening of Radicchio, a new Student Union restaurant that offers several plant-based and gluten-free options; the Arizona Dining and Nutrition Guide, which details dining locations and nutrition resources; the Nutrition Calculator, which provides nutrition and ingredient information; and allergen kits, which dining locations use to prepare orders without cross-contact with potential allergens.

This is the seventh year MenuTrinfo has presented the National Allergy Awards, which recognize organizations and individuals for their dedication to providing safe dining experiences.

We want to know about your good news. If you, your team or a colleague has won any major awards, been honored nationally or internationally, or accomplished some other major feat that deserves recognition, let us know about it.

To submit your news, please send us an email with the following information:

• Name of the person, team or unit receiving the honor with full University titles.
• Information about the award/honor and the organization that granted it. Please include a link to the official announcement of the award/honor.
• When the honor was announced and when it will be presented (or was presented).
• A photo of the honoree. If others appear in the photo, please provide their names and identifying information, such as their University title or other affiliation.

Questions? Contact Lo Que Pasa at uaatwork@arizona.edu.