UC Tech Awards 2025 showcase courage and boldness in transforming UC technology

On June 26, the University of California honored two individuals and 12 teams from throughout the UC system with 2025 UC Tech Awards at the UC Tech Conference, which this year took place at the UC Riverside Conference Center.

Teams and individuals were recognized in seven award categories, each highlighting a key skill or value that has driven technological advancement across the UC system — including the AI Impact Award, Larry L. Sautter Award for Innovation in Information Technology, IT Security Award, Yvonne Tevis UC Collaboration Award, Mojgan A. Amini Operational Excellence Award, Design Award and Sustained Impact Award.

Founded in 2001, the annual UC Tech Awards Program celebrates individuals and teams within the university’s technology community for significant contributions to advancing UC’s mission through innovative tools and approaches.

Congratulations to the 2025 Tech Award winners!

This year’s award winners showcase the diversity and excellence of the UC system, spanning multiple locations, technical disciplines and real-world challenges — from AI-powered healthcare and population health to robust cybersecurity, sustainable operations and innovative design.

Select each project link below to explore the award application and discover how each achievement is advancing UC’s mission and making a positive impact at the local, state, national or global level.

Larry L. Sautter Award for Innovation in Information Technology

Golden Award: UC Health Milk Bank Automation (UC San Diego Health/UC Health): The UC Health Milk Bank has leveraged automation technology to create a unique identification and tracking system of pasteurized human milk donations, support traceability and biovigilance, improving patient safety and expanding equitable access of donor milk to vulnerable populations.

Silver Award: UC Systemwide Statement of Legal Residence (Systemwide): This platform and process enables UC applicants to secure a residence status when admitted, accurately and efficiently determining their residency for tuition purposes in a standardized, centralized and user-friendly system.

Design Awards

Golden Award: UC Irvine Spark (UC Irvine):This first-of-its-kind student success application leverages user-centered design, new data integration and governance methods and ongoing campuswide collaboration to provide tailored support for a diverse student body.

Silver Award: Industry Documents Library Web Application Rebuild (UCSF): The Industry Documents Library team redesigned and rebuilt a web application for a digital archive of millions of documents for life-saving public health research.

Mojgan A. Amini Operational Excellence Award

Golden Award: UC San Diego Health Mobile Team (UC San Diego Health): UC San Diego Health’s Mobile team redesigned the user experience of their underperforming mobile app, transforming it into the third-highest-rated hospital app in the U.S., improving patient satisfaction, expanding access to care and strengthening the university’s reputation.

Silver Award: Real-Time Wildfire Impact Mapping for UCLA (UCLA): UCLA’s Enterprise Data Analytics Reporting and Analytics team created three dashboards to track and support impacted employees and students during the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County.

IT Security Award

Golden Award: UC Berkeley Minimum Security Standards for Electronic Information (MSSEI) Workgroup (UC Berkeley): Cross-collaborative IT professionals balanced systemwide policies with operational challenges, campus values, risk tolerance and industry best practices to update security control standards, information security policies and IT risk management.

Silver Award: Aegis Risk Management System (UC Davis):The Aegis Risk Management Application enhances risk assessment, tracking and mitigation at UC Davis, integrating security frameworks, automating compliance workflow and delivering real-time visibility into risk status.

Yvonne Tevis UC Collaboration Award

Golden Award: UC Campus Privacy Officers (Systemwide): Over the past three years, the UC Campus Privacy Officers group has worked tirelessly with diverse collaborators to reshape privacy throughout the UC system. Because of their efforts, our culture of privacy has shifted, and our community is much better protected and prepared.

Silver Award: UC Emergency Management Geographic Information System Systemwide Facility Data Layer Automation Team (Systemwide): This project provides UC emergency management and business continuity staff with a comprehensive systemwide dataset that maps UC facilities and their proximity to emerging hazards/threats.

AI Impact Award

Golden Award: UCSF Versa AI Tiger Team (UCSF/UCSF Health): Developed through cross-team collaboration, Versa is a secure, AI-powered platform that transforms workflow automation, research and productivity across healthcare, education and administration at UCSF. Led by the AI Tiger Team, Versa supports thousands of users while ensuring responsible AI adoption.

Silver Award: Population Risk Model Redesign Project (UCLA Health): This model was redesigned to optimize its end-to-end process and run monthly, instead of quarterly, to base predictions on current data and more quickly assess intervention impact. It aligns with a Machine Learning Operations Framework and adheres to UCLA’s Responsible AI Program.

Sustained Impact Award

Golden Award: Eric T. Martin (UC Riverside): Eric’s 23-year career at UC Riverside demonstrates consistent excellence in project management, impactful contributions to the university’s technology landscape and a commitment to innovation and improvement. His leadership and expertise have modernized critical operations, streamlined processes and enhanced the university’s technological capabilities.

Silver Award: Laurel Skurko (UC Office of the President): Over 10 years at UC, including three at UCOP,  Laurel has strengthened the UC Tech community by leading innovative engagement, marketing and content strategies for thousands of members of the UC Tech community. She has supported tech employees’ career growth and advanced UC’s digital transformation with a customer-centric and collaborative approach.

Visit UC Tech News for a complete list of this year’s nominees.