Lowa Mwilambwe (left) receives his award from John Kaulfus, executive
director of student activities and the university center.
(Photo by Mark McClendon)

The Extra Mile Award: Robert N. Rivas

By Tim Brownlee
Assistant Director of Public Affairs

(April 17, 2006)--Robert N. Rivas, will be honored with the Extra Mlle Award, one of five that will be presented April 20 at the UTSA Staff Excellence and Service Awards ceremony.

The five Staff Excellence Awards recognize excellent work performance in emerging leadership, dynamic leadership, teamwork, extraordinary initiative and overall excellence.

This year's additional award winners are:

• Rising Star Award: Dan Smolenski, senior systems administrator, Department of Computer Science
• Team Spirit Award: Inventory Department staff members George Estevez, inventory clerk I; Olinda Ongay, inventory clerk II; Miriam Marin, inventory clerk II; James Sumner, inventory clerk III and Frank Bates, accountant II
• Extra Mile Award: Robert Rivas, research scientist associate II, Department of Biology
• Order of the Roadrunner Award: Hermilo "Milo" Silva, assistant director of planning and engineering, Center for Distance Learning and Academic Technology

In the second of five award spotlights that will be featured on UTSA Today, the Leadership Award recognizes a supervisory staff member who has promoted department and university goals through actions and job performance, demonstrated exceptional leadership ability, fostered a positive and motivating work environment, maintained open communication within the department and throughout UTSA, encouraged professional development, demonstrated fairness in resolving work-related issues and receptivity to feedback regarding personal job performance.

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Robert N. Rivas

Extra Mile Award winner

Robert Rivas is responsible for maintaining the quality of the introductory biology laboratories. Curretnly, nearly 1,000 students each year take this class in 40 different sections. Robert must coordinate the reagents, chemicals and equipment needed so that the students meeting in each laboratory will have what they need.

Although not in his job description, Robert repairs an average of fifteen minor and two major equipment breakdowns every week. If he did not go beyond and spend the extra time to do this, the university would be saddled with thousands of dollars in repair bills and many of the labs would have to be cancelled.

Rivas also trains the biology teaching assistants to become affective teachers, several of whom do not speak English fluently.

Rivas also acts as an ambassador for the UTSA science community. He is contacted throughout the year by people who are interested in using the university's facilities for science fairs, mold detection and identification of bacterial infections.

"Robert is one of the best citizens of the department," Aaron Cassil, associate biology professor and assistant chair, said. "If someone's car breaks down, he drives out and tows it to a repair shop or fixes it himself. When an instructor is out sick or has a family situtaion, Robert is the first to volunteer to cover their class. He works six days a week, and sometimes even seven, to make sure his students are taken care of."

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UTSA employees are invited to attend the event hosted by Rosalie Ambrosino, UTSA provost and vice president for academic affairs; Kerry Kennedy, UTSA vice president for business affairs; and Jude Valdez, UTSA vice president for extended services, at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 20, in the University Center Laurel Room (2.01.28) on the 1604 Campus. The ceremony will include remarks by UTSA President Ricardo Romo.

Downtown Campus and Institute of Texan Cultures staff members can attend the event utilizing VIA buses 93 or 94 at no charge by showing their UTSACard.

The ceremony will include retiree recognition, service pin awards for 5 to 35 years, and refreshments. Thirty-four staff members will be honored on their retirements and 214 staff members will receive UT System service awards for the 2005 calendar year.

Watch UTSA Today for profiles of the winners of the Team Spirit Award, Extra Mile Award and Order of the Roadrunner Award.