The employee who is awarded this honor has accomplished a lot, has a can do attitude, comes up with innovative ways to improve services. They should be professional, pleasant, kind, creative, fun, organized, who genuinely cares about our people, goes the extra mile, creates a healthy & positive work environment, has a good sense of humor, and someone who makes Kawerak a great place to work! All regular status employees who have passed the 6-month probationary period are eligible to be nominated. The final award is selected by All Staff through voting.
The 2021 Matthew Iya award goes to, Celeste Menadelook!
Celeste has worked for the Children and Family Services Department since October 2016. Each year, Celeste has taken on more responsibilities and duties within the Department. Celeste has helped reunify and close more than five OCS cases this year alone, which is a very high number.
Celeste is very diligent with regards to maintaining communication with caseworkers, the Guardian Ad Litem, and parents in each case she works. Celeste willing provides steady coverage to multiple villages in which our Tribal Family Coordinator positions are vacant.
Celeste took it upon herself to work with supervisors to develop an online zoom training to onboard new employees as COVID has limited travel and training opportunities. Celeste has helped onboard three employees this year and provides support and feedback to an array of questions from coworkers.
Celeste has helped OCS identify and support multiple relative family placements (within the region) over the last year which greatly improves the chances of parents and children reunifying. One coworker praises Celeste saying, “She is always willing to step up and take on other job duties.”
A Guardian Ad Litem she commonly works with stated, “Celeste is very good to work with and always on time for hearings and well acquainted with her cases. She is great to work with!”
Other 2021 Award Nominees include:
Anahma Shannon
Anahma has shown great leadership skills though the years as well as during the pandemic. Her efforts to grow the Environmental program for the betterment of our region is nonstop. Anahma is always going over and beyond to seek additional funding and resources to utilize in reaching our goals for the program and Kawerak as a whole. She not only offers her professional services for Kawerak but also for other regional businesses and entities when requested not to mention the various steering committees she is a part of or helps lead. Anahma is innovative and professional on all levels while being understanding. Anhama is able to encourage and push her staff to do better with great moral while helping staff’s personal growth in the work field. She keeps the work environment healthy and fun in a professional manner and makes coming to work enjoyable. Anahma is compassionate for the work she does with the region and the state. She is caring and supportive of the environmental team she leads and encourages the team to challenge one’s self.
Alice Bioff
Alice embodies the spirit of her dedicated work for Kawerak, her professional yet caring attitude, and her passion for the region and its people.
In her role as the Business Planning Specialist, Alice has taken on many roles and tasks way beyond what’s required of her in her position. She gives her clients the one on one attention, care and support they deserve 100% of the time. She truly desires their success individually, and small business in the region collectively. She gets involved writing grants, executing projects and accomplishing deliverables even if it means giving her extra time to ensure opportunities are not lost.
She also makes it a point to advocate on behalf of the region and the arts. She is involved with numerous boards that strengthen the regions connection to funding opportunities and making sure our artists are considered at all levels.
On a personal level, Alice has always been a joy to work with. She is kind, thoughtful, considerate, humble and also very professional – even if situations can become challenging or tense. A task always seems more pleasant and more do-able with Alice on your team.
There are numerous specific examples I wish I could list them all, but anyone who has worked with Alice could contribute to these sentiments. I think honoring Alice with this award would recognize her in the way she deserves.
Lisa Ellanna
Lisa embodies the Matthew Iya award. In 2021 she took on the responsibilities of both the Katirvik Cultural Center and the Wellness Program for Kawerak. Lisa has not complained about the extra burden and has worked hard to ensure services continue despite all the COVID restrictions. Lisa listens to her team and makes sure they have the best support Kawerak can offer. She really does the extra mile to make sure they have what they need to be creative and do their best.
Lisa is also an advocate for our community. She spends hours getting the leg work done to help our community made positive decisions for community wellness. When Lisa does this is her humble nature shows as she is quick to shy away from credit – often crediting others who have also supported the work.
There is so much more to say about Lisa and her service to our people – the list is pretty endless and she is so selfless. She is definitely deserving of the Matthew Iya award.
