LaRita Robinson Receives the 2025 Julie Allinson Award

On behalf of the Selection Committee, it is my great pleasure to announce that the recipient of the 2025 Julie Allinson Award is LaRita Robinson, Senior Software Engineer at Notch8. LaRita was nominated by Hyku Technical Lead Rob Kaufman, Shana Moore from Notch8, and Nick Steinwachs from Notch8.

Rob's nomination included, “LaRita is one of the community members who is willing to work on the least fun, least glamorous parts of the code. She continually tries to ensure the pieces she touches work for everyone and not just to solve the current problem. Her efforts in the community are often quiet, but can be critical to ensuring that the platforms Samvera support work properly day in and day out.”

Nick’s nomination shared that “LaRita has so much grit and determination, working to fix the most confusing, old parts of code for the greater community benefit. She has worked tirelessly to bring complex, long-term migrations into Hyku over the finish line.”

Shana pointed out how LaRita's “dedication, warmth, and impact embody the spirit of the Julie Allinson Award”:

“LaRita plays a key role in the Samvera x Notch8 office hours, creating a welcoming space for community members to ask questions, share ideas, and navigate challenges. LaRita is generous with her time and knowledge, and she genuinely enjoys solving the hard problems that others might avoid, bringing clarity and progress to complex issues. Most of all, LaRita loves what she does. She chooses to stay rooted in the Samvera ecosystem not out of obligation, but out of genuine passion for the work and the community.”

Congratulations LaRita, and thank you for your outstanding and continuing contributions to the Samvera Community!

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