2025 Staff Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) Awards

Congratulations to the 2025 recipients of the 2025 Staff Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) Awards, honoring exceptional contributions by staff across our community. These awards recognize those who go above and beyond in service, performance, and dedication to UCSF’s mission and PRIDE Values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence. See the list of winners from Brian Abascal and Naciacien Bambilla to Irina Worthy and Robin Young.

Achievement Awards – $7,500 

The Achievement Award recognizes sustained and outstanding performance over time that contributes significantly to our goals. This year’s awardees have demonstrated exceptional commitment and impact: 

Team Achievement Awards – $7,500 per team 

New in 2025, the Team Achievement Award celebrates collaborative excellence and shared impact: 

HIV Leadership Initiative 
Julie Whitfield, Ben Ignalino, JaDawn Wright-Morgan 

Positivity in Times of Uncertainty 
JaDawn Wright-Morgan, Jae Rouse Iñiguez 

STOP COVID 
Abby Cabrera, Roberto Vargas, Jonathan Butler 

SPOT Awards – $1,500 

SPOT Awards recognize timely, outstanding contributions to a project or task. This year’s recipients stood out for their innovation, commitment, and impact: 

Thank You and Congratulations! 

These STAR Award recipients represent the heart of UCSF—dedicated, innovative, and deeply committed to making a difference. Please join us in celebrating their achievements and thanking them for their invaluable contributions.